A *fine paid to a lord for permission for a daughter to marry; its value was variable, according to the wealth or poverty of the father. The lord needed recompense for the loss to his *manor of the daughter's future children and their potential for work on his estate. The Latin was merchetum. [< late OldEngl. markett = place where things were sold]
Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases. Christopher Coredon with Ann Williams.