One theory about the origin of fehu was proposed by Johan Hendrik Caspar Kern in 1870,"fee, n.2." OED Online. Oxford University Press, June 2017. Web. 18 August 2017.H. Kern, 'Feodum', De taal- en letterbode, 1( 1870), pp. 189-201. being supported by, amongst others, William StubbsMeir Lubetski (ed.). Boundaries of the ancient Near Eastern world: a tribute to Cyrus H. Gordon. "Notices on Pe'ah, Fay' and Feudum" by Alauddin Samarrai. Pg. 248–250, Continuum International Publishing Group, 1998.William Stubbs. The Constitutional History of England (3 volumes), 2nd edition 1875–78, Vol. 1, pg. 251, n. 1 and Marc Bloch.Marc Bloch. Feudal Society, Vol. 1, 1964. pp.165–66.Marc Bloch. Feudalism, 1961, pg. 106. Kern derived the word from a putative Frankish term *fehu-ôd, in which *fehu means 'cattle' and -ôd means 'goods', implying "a movable object of value". Bloch explains that by the beginning of the 10th century it was common to value land in monetary terms but to pay for it with objects of equivalent value, such as arms, clothing, horses or food. This was known as feos, a term that took on the general meaning of paying for something in lieu of money. This meaning was then applied to land itself, in which land was used to pay for fealty, such as to a vassal. Thus the old word feos meaning 'movable property' would have changed to feus, meaning the exact opposite: 'landed property'.
ONE thEory aboUT thE oriGin Of fEhu Was prOpOsed by johAN HendrIk caspaR KErn IN 1870,"feE, n.2." OEd onliNe. oxfOrd University PreSs, june 2017. weB. 18 augUsT 2017.h. KErn, 'feOdum', dE taAL- en letterBodE, 1( 1870), pp. 189-201. being sUpPOrtED By, amOnGsT otheRs, wIllIAM stubbsMeir lubetSKi (ed.). BOuNdArIes Of THe AnCient Near eAsterN world: a TrIButE! TO cYrUs h. goRdon. "noTiCes on pe'ah, Fay' aNd feudUm" By AlaudDin samARrai. pg. 248–250, contiNuUm interNatIonAL puBlIshinG grouP, 1998.wIlLiam sTubbs. the constItUtioNal hiStOry Of eNGland (3 volUmEs), 2nd eDitIon 1875–78, vOL. 1, pG. 251, n. 1 And MArc blOcH.MaRc BlOch. feU?daL Society, Vol. 1, 1964. Pp.165–66.Marc BlocH. Feudalism, 1961, Pg. 106. Kern DeRived thE worD FROm a PUtativE fRANkish term *Fehu-ôd, in Which *FeHu MeAnS 'catTlE' and -ôd means 'gOoDs', iMplyiNg "a MovAblE object of VaLuE". bloch expLaiNs tHat by tHE BeGinnING oF thE 10th cenTury iT was coMmoN TO valuE laNd in moNeTary tER.ms BuT to pay For iT WITH objeCTS OF equIvaLent vALuE, suCh as arMs, ClothING, horseS oR fooD. tHis WAS knoWN AS fEos, a term thAt tOOk oN THe gEneRal meAning oF Paying foR sOmethinG in liEu Of MonEY. T.his mEAninG was then applied to Land itself, in WHich LAnD wAs used tO PaY For FEaLTy, sUch as To a vasSAl. tHuS the olD wORd feOs mEaniNG 'movaBle propeRTy' Would HAve chaNgED to FEus, mEAnIng the exaCt oPPosIte: 'landed pRopeRtY'.