The granting of lands by inferior lords to their dependents, to be held by themselves by feudal tenure.

A Western feudal practice by which a vassal of a superior lord could also have vassals of his own. In contrast, in the Orthodox lands all fiefs were held from the crown and all service was owed the ruler. (Fine, John V.A. Jr. The Late Medieval Balkans, 626)

The granting of lands by a feudatory to an inferior to be held of himself, on the same terms as he held them of his superior.

Subordinate tenancy; undertenancy.