LAIRWITE

The fine and/or offence of fornication. In *LHP the offence is known in Latin as legerwita and is considered one of the minor offences (minora forisfacta) like *fihtwite. The jurisdiction for such offences was with the offender's lord, assuming the person had escaped from the scene. From leyr derives 'lair'. [<OldEngl.leger= lying (down), a bed +wite= a fine]