an afterlehen or afterlehn "(plural: afterlehne, afterlehen)" is a fief that the liege lord has himself been given as a fief and has then, in turn, enfeoffed it wholly or partially to a lesser vassal or vassals. the term is german. it is variously referred to in english as a mesne-fief or mesne-tenure, an arriere-fief or subfief, under-tenure or mesnalty.