The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word SERFDOM
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
S
E
R
F
D
O
M
More clues leading to the result SERFDOM
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "characteristic of feudal system" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case characteristic of feudal system = serfdom.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does SERFDOM mean?
SERFDOM noun- The state of being a serf.
- The feudal system that includes serfs.