In English law. A customary tribute of goods and chattels, payable to the lord of the fee on the decease of the owner of the land.
Heriots are divided into heriot service and heriot custom. The former expression denotes such as are due upon a special reservation in a grant or lease of lands, and therefore amount to Little more than a mere rent; the latter arise upon no special reservation whatever, but depend solely upon immemorial usage and custom. 2 Bl. Comm. 422; See Adams v. Morse, 51 Me. 501.