Feudal Law. Obs. [f. WARD sb.2 + CORN sb.1] A periodical payment in corn to the superior in commutation of military service. Cf. WARDPENNY.
1415. Foundation Charter, Shene, Surrey, in Dugdale, Monast. (1830), VI. I. 33/1. Et quod omnia bona … hominum … prædictorum quorumcunque, sint … quieta de omnimodo pavagio, passagio,… &c. et de omni scotto et geldo,… et wardepeny, wardecorne, averpeny, hundredpeny, et borthalpeny, [etc.].
1441. Court Rolls (P. R. O.), 1/3. Decennarius … presentat … j quarterium drageti vocati Wardecorne.
¶ Du Cange wrongly identified wardcorn with cornagium, to which he gave an erroneous explanation: see CORNAGE ¶. His error has been adopted in many Eng. Dicts.
1701. Cowel’s Interpr. (ed. Kennett), Wardecorn, the Duty of keeping Watch and Ward with a Horn to blow, upon any occasion of surprize.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey).
1721–1800. in Bailey.
In recent Dicts.
