The word derives from the
French estover,
estovoir, a
verb used as a
substantive meaning "that which is necessary". This word is of disputed origin; it has been referred to the
Latin stare, to stand, or
studere, to desire. The Old English word for estover was
bote or
boot, also spelled
bot or
bót, (literally meaning 'good' or 'profit' and cognate with the word
better). The various kinds of estovers were known as house-bote, cart or plough-bote, hedge or hay-bote, and fire-bote.
Anglo-Saxon law also imposed "bot" fines in the modern sense of compensation. These rights might be restricted by express
covenants.
Copyholders had similar rights over the land they occupied and over the waste of the manor, in which case the rights are known as
Commons of estovers. Burrill in his dated
A law dictionary and glossary published in New York (1871) states: ==See also==