parages

Noun

parage (countable and uncountable, plural parages)

1. (archaic) Lineage, parentage; rank, especially as high or noble.
   • at souper the knyght sat syr Beumayns afore the damoisel / Fy fy said she syr knyghte ye are vncurtoys to sette a kechyn page afore me hym bysemeth better to stycke a swyne than to sytte afore a damoysel of hyhe parage / thenne the knyght was ashamed atte her wordes / and took hym vp / and sette...1485, Sir Thomas Malory, chapter V, in Le Morte Darthur, book VII
2. A feudal institution that recognizes equality of rights and status between two rulers, and equality in the portions of an inheritance.
3. A woman's marriage portion or dowry.