esnecy

1. (UK, law, obsolete or historical) A prerogative given to the eldest coparcener (or whomever of the coparceners is so entitled by a court) to choose first after an inheritance is divided.Examples: "When, in the fourteenth century, the estates of the Corbets were divided amongst their co-heirs, Caus Castle, being of the esnecy of the elder sister, passed to the Barons Stafford."; "In 1224 Walter de Besebroc and Joan his wife, Richard de Dunuar (or Dunnewer) and Agnes his wife were parceners of land in (Little) Newton, Northants.,[…]Walter and Joan had the esnecy; the inheritance extended into Rushton and Geddington, Northants."; "[…]touching the purparty of Maud of the inheritance of William de Brehusa, father of Maud and Eleanor, whose heirs these are; of which inheritance the said Roger and Maud required esnecy, and thereof there was a plea in the said court[…]."UKhistoricalobsoleteuncountable