commonage

American  

[kom-uh-nij] / ˈkɒm ə nɪdʒ /

noun

1. the joint use of anything, especially a pasture.

2. the state of being held in common.

3. something that is so held, as land.

4. commonalty.

---

commonage British  

/ ˈkɒmənɪdʒ /

noun

1. law

   1. the use of something, esp a pasture, in common with others

   2. the right to such use

2. the state of being held in common

3. something held in common, such as land

4. another word for commonalty

---

Etymology

Origin of commonage

First recorded in 1600–10; common + -age

Example Sentences

The indaba began upon small matters, a recent dispute or two as to the ownership of cattle, or of land commonage, and so forth.

From Forging the Blades A Tale of the Zulu Rebellion by Mitford, Bertram

The whole baronetage, peerage, and commonage of England did not contain a more cunning, mean, foolish, disreputable old rogue than Sir Pitt Crawley.

From Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction and the Drama, Vol. 1 A Revised American Edition of the Reader's Handbook by Brewer, Ebenezer Cobham

No parcelling out of the land forbids him to improve to the least advantage the portion he possesses, and no right of commonage, belonging to many, prevents each from deriving profit from his share.

From The Empire of the East by Montgomery, H. B. (Helen Barrett)

In the evening we heard that the enemy were at Glen Lennie on their way to Harrismith, and that a patrol had already reached the town commonage.

From Through Shot and Flame The Adventures and Experiences of J. D. Kestell Chaplain to President Steyn and General Christian De Wet by Kestell, J. D. (John Daniel)

It is the way your forefathers understood the law of commonage, and nobody ever grumbled that his neighbor had a cow or a pig too many!

From One Of Them by Lever, Charles James

Related Words

• cooperative
• kibbutz
• municipality
• village