The fine and/or offence of fornication. In *LHP the offence is known in Latin as legerwita and is considered one of the minor offences (minora forisfacta) like *fihtwite. The jurisdiction for such offences was with the offender's lord, assuming the person had escaped from the scene. From leyr derives 'lair'. [< OldEngl. leger = lying (down), a bed + wite = a fine]
Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases. Christopher Coredon with Ann Williams.