Definition of "hidage" in English

noun

1. (UK, law, obsolete or historical) A tax formerly paid to the kings of England for every hide of land.

   • 1898, Hannis Taylor, The Origin and Growth of the English Constitution, Part 2: The After-growth of the Constitution, In the case of the towns, to which the reckoning by hides could not be applied, the Danegeld or hidage was probably compounded for, and such composition represents no doubt the later talliage.⁴ In the ninth year of Henry II. the Danegeld as such finally disappeared from the Rolls, but only to reappear as aid or hidage, and in the reign of Richard I. as carucage.

2. (historical) The total area of land, measured in hides.