Stift
Encyclopedia
A Stift can be:
- a German word for 'pen' or 'pencil'
- a German word for a feudal entity under the secular rule of a prince of the churchPrince of the ChurchThe term Prince of the Church is nowadays used nearly exclusively for Catholic Cardinals. However the term is historically more important as a generic term for clergymen whose offices hold the secular rank and privilege of a prince or are considered its equivalent...
; also in compounds such as HochstiftHochstiftIn the Holy Roman Empire the German term Hochstift was often used to denote the form of secular authority held by bishops ruling a prince-bishopric.... - a Nordic administrative jurisdiction, under a StiftamtmandBailiffA bailiff is a governor or custodian ; a legal officer to whom some degree of authority, care or jurisdiction is committed...
(Danish)