Definition

Noun: - A large barn built to store the agricultural produce given as a tithe: A tithe barn is a specific type of barn, historically common in England, constructed for the purpose of storing the tenth part (tithe) of a farm's produce that was paid as a tax to the local church or religious institution. These payments were often "in kind," meaning with goods like grain, hay, or livestock rather than money.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The medieval tithe barn on the estate is now used for community events.
  • Visitors can see how the massive timbers of the tithe barn supported the weight of the stored grain.

Advanced Usage

• Historical and architectural term: "Tithe barn" is primarily used in historical, architectural, and cultural contexts to describe these specific surviving structures, which are often noted for their size and construction.
  • The tour focused on the architectural significance of the 14th-century tithe barn.

Variants and Related Words

• Tithe (noun): The one-tenth part of something, paid as a contribution to a religious organization or as a tax.
  • Farmers paid their tithe to the parish church.
• Barn (noun): A large farm building used for storing grain, hay, or housing livestock.
  • The hay was kept dry in the barn.

Synonyms

• Storehouse: A building used for storing goods.
• Granary: A storehouse for threshed grain. (Note: A tithe barn often functioned as a granary, but the term specifies the purpose of the tax payment.)

Notes on Meaning

• The term is a compound noun ("tithe" + "barn") that refers specifically to a barn with this historical function. It is not used to describe a modern barn or a barn used for general storage.

Noun

1. barn originally built to hold tithes paid in kind and common in England