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# Demesne

## Definition

The land retained by a lord for his own use and that of his household, as distinguished from land granted to tenants. In medieval economic systems, demesnes represented the core economic units of noble estates, from which lords derived direct income through agricultural production and associated feudal rights.

## Source Chapter

Book III, Chapter 3

## Context

Smith mentions demesnes in the context of discussing how certain traders living on their lords' demesnes were granted exemptions from various taxes. This illustrates how economic privileges were often tied to specific geographical locations within the feudal hierarchy, with demesnes serving as centers of noble economic power.

## Economic Domain

General Theory

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