The word derives the 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 (literally meaning good or profit, the same word as seen in "better"). The various kinds of estovers were thus known as house-bote, cart or plough-bote, hedge or hay-bote, and fire-bote respectively. These rights might be restricted by express covenants. Copyholders have similar rights over the land they occupy and over the waste of the manor, in which case the rights are known as Commons of estovers.
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Last updated on Tuesday June 10, 2008 at 12:10:51 PDT (GMT -0700)
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