toft

A farmer tends his toft in the morning.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A homestead or farmstead: "toft" refers to a piece of land with a house or buildings on it, historically used as a small farm or homestead.
   • A curtilage: In legal or historical contexts, "toft" can mean the land immediately surrounding a dwelling, including outbuildings and yard.

Usage Examples

• (The old homestead with its buildings remains.)
• (He received a small farmstead with structures.)

Advanced Usage

• "toft and croft": a historical phrase referring to a homestead with a small enclosed field (croft) attached.
  • The medieval records mention a toft and croft granted to the tenant. (A farmstead with a small field was given to the farmer.)

Variants and Related Words

• Toftman (n): a tenant who lives on a toft.
  • The toftman paid rent for his land and house. (The farmer-tenant paid for his homestead.)

Synonyms

• Homestead: a house with land and outbuildings, especially a farm.
• Farmstead: a farm and its buildings.
• Curtilage: the land attached to a dwelling.

Related Idioms

• Toft and croft: (see Advanced Usage) — (They had a small homestead with a field.)