Derbfine

A derbfine is a word used in old Irish history, like a long time before now. It's like a family group, sort of like a big family tree with lots of branches, but with specific rules on who's in charge and who gets what.

It all started with a person who was really important, like a king or queen. This person had lots of land and wealth, and they wanted to make sure that everything stayed in their family after they died. So, they made a big list of all their family members and decided who would be in charge of the land and stuff.

That list was called the derbfine. It was like a record of who was who in the family, and where they fit in the line of inheritance. If someone died, the next person on the list would take over.

But it wasn't just a list of names. The derbfine also had rules about how the family members should act towards each other. For example, if two people on the list had an argument, there was a special person called a Brehon who would come and sort things out.

The derbfine was really important back then because it helped keep the peace in the family. Everyone knew where they stood and what they were entitled to. It might sound a bit complicated, but it was really just a way of making sure that everyone in the family got along and had a fair share of everything.