In English law, an estover is an allowance made to a person out of an estate, or other thing, for his or her support.
[1] The word derives from the French estover, estovoir, a verb used as a substantive meaning "that which is necessary".
This word is of disputed origin; it has been referred to the Latin stare, to stand, or studere, to desire.
The various kinds of estovers were known as house-bote, cart or plough-bote, hedge or hay-bote, and fire-bote.
Anglo-Saxon law also imposed "bot" fines in the modern sense of compensation.
[1] Burrill in his dated A law dictionary and glossary published in New York (1871) states: ESTOVER.
An allowance made to a person out of an estate, or other thing for his or her support, as for food and raiment, (in victu et vestitu).
An allowance (more commonly called alimony,) granted to a woman divorced a mensa et thoro, for her support out of her husband's estate.