Prebend

Prebend, a stipend granted in cathedral churches d pr'bendum, to maintain a priest; also, but improperly, the priest himself. A simple prebend is merely a revenue; a prebend, with dignity, has some jurisdiction attached to it. The term 'prebend' is generally confounded with canonicate; but there is a difference between them. The former is the stipend granted to an ecclesiastic in consideration of his officiating and serving in the church; whereas the canonicate is a mere title or spiritual quality which may exist independently of any stipend, 2 Steph. Com.