[ ɪ'stəʊvəz , ɛ- ]
■ plural noun (usu. common/right of ~ ) Brit., chiefly historical the right to take wood for fuel, repairs, or other necessary purpose from land which one does not own, especially land of which one is the tenant or lessee.
Origin
C15: from Anglo-Norman Fr. estover 'be necessary', based on L. est opus 'it is necessary'.