Webster's 1828 Dictionary
ESTOVERS
n.In law, necessaries, or supplies; a reasonable allowance out of lands or goods for the use of a tenant; such as sustenance of a felon in prison, and for his family, during his imprisonment; alimony for a woman divorced, out of her husband's estate. Common of estovers is the liberty of taking the necessary wood for the use or furniture of a house or farm, from another's estate. In Saxon, it is expressed by bote, which signifies more or supply, as house-bote, plow-bote, fire-bote, cart-bote, etc.
Webster's 1913 Dictionary
ESTOVERS
Es *to "vers, n. pl. Etym: [OF. estoveir, estovoir, necessary, necessity, need, prop. an infin. meaning to suit, be fit, be necessary. See Stover. ] (Law )
Defn: Necessaries or supples; an allowance to a person out of an estate or other thing for support; as of wood to a tenant for life, etc. , of sustenance to a man confined for felony of his estate, or alimony to a woman divorced out of her husband's estate. Blackstone.Common of estovers. See under Common, n.
New American Oxford Dictionary
estovers
estovers |ɪˈstəʊvəz, ɛ- | ▶plural noun (usu. common /right of estovers ) Brit., chiefly historical the right to take wood from land one does not own, especially land of which one is the tenant or lessee. ORIGIN late 15th cent.: plural of Anglo-Norman French estover, noun use of a verb meaning ‘be necessary ’, based on Latin est opus ‘it is necessary ’.
Oxford Dictionary
estovers
estovers |ɪˈstəʊvəz, ɛ- | ▶plural noun (usu. common /right of estovers ) Brit., chiefly historical the right to take wood from land one does not own, especially land of which one is the tenant or lessee. ORIGIN late 15th cent.: plural of Anglo-Norman French estover, noun use of a verb meaning ‘be necessary ’, based on Latin est opus ‘it is necessary ’.
The Wordsmith Dictionary