Obs. 7–8 coli-. [F. collibert, ad. L. collibert-us fellow-freedman, f. col-, con- together + libertus freedman. Concerning the mediæval colliberti, see article in Du Cange.]
1. In France under the Feudal system: A kind of tenant freed from strict serfdom, but bound to certain duties or services. In the Custom of Anjou, they had become simply serfs. (Never used in England.)
[1672. Cowel’s Interpr., Coleberti, are Tenants in Free Socage, Doomsday-Book, or such as being Villains were manumitted.]
1708–15. Kersey, Coliberts or Colliberts, a middle sort of Tenants, between Servile and Free: In the Civil Law, they who were made free together, at the same time.
1721. in Bailey.
1864. N. & Q., V. 384. (transl. from Fr.) Colliberts were, therefore, bound by serfdom.
2. ‘Miserable inhabitants of Aunis and Poitou’ (Littré) named after the mediæval colliberts.
