Old English Word Glossary

Old English Word Glossary

We translate the archaic words in your ancestor's will and probate inventory

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All Legal Terms Property & Land Household Goods Textiles & Clothing Farm & Livestock Money & Measures Family & Status

💡 Probate inventories are often the most confusing documents in genealogy because they list every item a person owned using the vocabulary of the time. A 'trammel' is a fireplace cooking hook. A 'puncheon' is a large barrel. A 'bolster' is a long pillow. These terms described everyday objects that everyone recognised at the time — the equivalent of listing a 'microwave' or 'router' today.