Definitions for "Hides"
In Anglo-Saxon times land was measured in hides. One hide of land was supposed to be enough to meet the needs of one family - for them to live on, grow crops and graze animals. So 7000 hides of land is a very large gift of land indeed. Back
The hide of the cow yields leather, which was in extremely high demand early in the cattle industry as people from the Eastern cities needed leather for a variety of products, such as shoes, for which we have synthetics today.
Skin of large animals, usually cattle.