corvee

WORDNET DICTIONARY

corvee(n = noun.act) - unpaid labor (as for the maintenance of roads) required by a lord of his vassals in lieu of taxes;

corvee, n. [F. corvée, fr. LL. corvada, corrogata, fr. L. corrogare to entreat together; cor- + rogare to ask.].

An obligation to perform certain services, as the repair of roads, for the lord or sovereign. [1913 Webster]