scot and lot
- noun
- Archaic
:
scot y lot
- After constant disputes, the House of Commons finally decided that the mesne-lord (including the portreeve) and the inhabitants who paid scot and lot (i.e., rates) were alone entitled to vote.
Examples
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In medieval society, performing scot and lot meant fulfilling all the civic duties and taxes as a responsible citizen.
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Citizens who paid their scot and lot were granted the right to participate in local governance and decision-making.
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The concept of scot and lot reflects the historical obligations of citizens to contribute to their community's finances and welfare.
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'the full range of civic duties and taxes' is not derivable from the literal parts: 'scot' is an archaic/legal term (often unknown or specialized) and 'lot' in its ordinary sense ('portion' or 'fate') does not naturally indicate taxes or civic duties. The phrase is a fixed historical/legal idiom, so even learners who know the constituent words would not predict its specialised meaning.
Etymology
The phrase scot and lot probably comes from old town life, where scot meant a small tax people paid and lot meant the share or duty each person took. So, saying someone paid their scot and lot meant they had 'paid taxes and done their town duties', which is why the phrase now means the full set of local taxes and duties.
