noun
- a female serf or bondwoman in medieval times; a woman in a condition of serfdom
Usage: archaic; historical
Examples
- In medieval England, a neif was bound to the land and could not leave without her lord's permission.
- The neif's labor was owed entirely to the manor and its lord.
- Unlike a free peasant, a neif had no legal rights of her own.
- Historical records show that a neif could be sold along with the estate.
- The status of neif was hereditary, passed down through generations.