In English ecclesiastical law. A stipend granted in cathedral church-es; also, but Improperly, a prebendary. A simple prebend is merely a revenue; a pre-bend with dignity has some jurisdiction attached to it. The term “prebend” is general-ly confounded with "canonicate;” but there is a difference between them. The former is the stipend grauted 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. Comm. 674, note
Source: Black's Law Dictionary 2nd Ed (1910)
