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Hide (unit)

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The hide, in some places referred to as a carucate, was a variable unit of land area used in medieval England, defined according to its arable yield and taxable potential rather than its exact dimensions. This gave it a range of approximately 60 to 120 old acres, or 15 to 30 modern acres (6 to 12 hectares), depending on fertility.

A hide could agriculturally support one household and five hides were expected to produce one fully armed soldier in times of war. This definition was articulated by Athelstan: If a ceorl thrived, so that he had fully five hides of land, church and kitchen, bell-house and back gatescal, and special duty in the king's hall, then he was thenceforth of thane-right worthy.

Ten hides were formed into a tithing, ten tithings made a hundred, and a number of hundreds were grouped to form a shire.


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