chiefery

1. (historical) An Irish head taxExamples: "By procuring his Majesty to release to several Irish papists, some whereof were deeply engaged in the horrid rebellion of that kingdom, the chiefery's or head-rents reserved to the crown, out of the forfeited estates of papists Papists there, being a principal part of his majesty's revenue in that kingdom."; "The man did not care to be referred to Mr. Matthews; and to give some colour to his pretensions, produced three different notes, with the names of his grace's commissioners put to them, expressing that he was to pay only a chiefery out of the lands of Shragh, and directing Mr. John Bagot the receiver to suspend the rent till further order."; "The outsider was aware that payment of chiefery to the lord was the norm, but that some within the lordship were refusing to pay it."countablehistoricaluncountable