The bouche of court, or vulgarly budge of court, is generally free
food
Food is any substance consumed by an organism for nutritional support. Food is usually of plant, animal, or fungal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals. The substance is inge ...
and
drink
A drink or beverage is a liquid intended for human consumption. In addition to their basic function of satisfying thirst, drinks play important roles in human culture. Common types of drinks include plain drinking water, milk, juice, smoothies a ...
at a
royal court
A royal court, often called simply a court when the royal context is clear, is an extended royal household in a monarchy, including all those who regularly attend on a monarch, or another central figure. Hence, the word "court" may also be appl ...
, or specifically the
monarch's allowance of sustenance to their knights and servants during active duty. It is in the general sense that the French say, ''avoir bouche à la cour'', literally "to have mouth at the court."
This privilege was sometimes only extended to bread, beer, and wine. It was an ancient custom not only in royal courts, but also in the houses of the nobility.
Feudalism
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