LIEGE, (Ligeus), in law, is used for liege-lord, and sometimes for liege-man: liege-lord is he that acknowledgeth no superior, and liege-man is he who owneth allegiance to his liege-lord, 34 & 35 H. VIII. The king's subjects are called lieges or liege-people, because they owe and are bound to pay allegiance to him. Stat. 8. H. VI. c. 10, 14. H. VIII. c. 2. But in ancient times, private persons, as lords of manors, &c. had their lieges. Skene says that this word is derived from the Italian Liga, a bond or league.