Term for the customary practice in the Middle Ages of confirming a purchase or exchange transaction by drinking or feasting. The Middle High German term "Winkouf" is documented in 1218. It is important to note that witnesses drank with the transaction free of charge. The background to this was that the witnesses remembered the concluded transaction and should be able to testify to the facts in the event of possible later challenges and disputes. This was especially common in the purchase of land and cattle trade, but also in transactions of all kinds. In rural areas, the purchase of wine is still common today, for example in cattle trade in Swabia. In Bavaria and Austria there was the equivalent term "Leikauf" or "Leitkauf". See also under Leitgeben and under Brauchtum im Weinbau.
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Roman Horvath MW
Domäne Wachau (Wachau)