Emily Dickinson Lexicon

ES-TO'VERS, n. [Norm. estoffer, to store, stock, furnish; estuffeures, stores; Fr. etoffer, to stuff. See Stuff.]

In law, necessaries or supplies; a reasonable allowance out of lands or goods for the use of a tenant; such as sustenance of a felon in prison, and for his family during his imprisonment; alimony for a woman divorced, out of her husband's estate. Common of estovers, is the liberty of taking the necessary wood for the use or furniture of a house or farm, from another's estate. In Saxon, it is expressed by bote, which signifies more or supply, as house-bote, plow-bote, fire-bote, cart-bote, &c. Blackstone.