toelage

Toelage is a historical term used to describe the levy of tolls or duties on the movement of people, goods, or vehicles, typically imposed by authorities at gates, bridges, roads, markets, or ports. In medieval and early modern European records, toelage—also spelled tollage, tolage, or tolage—denotes both the obligation to pay and the revenue collected. The concept is closely related to tolls and to broader categories of feudal or municipal dues.

Etymology: The term appears as a variant of tollage in English and in vernacular documents, with spellings reflecting influence from Old French tol, toll, and the suffix -age, used to form nouns indicating an action or levy. Variants include tollage, tolage, and tolage in different regions and periods.

Usage: Tola ge (toelage) was often the prerogative of local or royal authorities and could apply to road passage, bridge crossings, ferries, market entries, and port dues. Rates varied by region and time, and exemptions were sometimes granted for certain travelers, merchants, or goods. In revenue accounts, tolage is recorded as a source of public income.

Current status: The term is largely archaic in modern English and French, surviving mainly in historical scholarship and lexicography. In contemporary practice, terms such as toll, duty, or customs levy are used.

See also: Toll, Toll road, Toll collector, Customs duty, Feudal dues.