frankpledge

[frangk-plej]

noun Old English Law.

a system of dividing a community into tithings or groups of ten men, each member of which was responsible for the conduct of the other members of his group and for the assurance that a member charged with a breach of the law would be produced at court.
a member of a tithing.
the tithing itself.

Origin of frankpledge

1250–1300; Middle English fra(u)nkplegge < Anglo-French frauncplege. See frank¹, pledge

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for frankpledge

Historical Examples of frankpledge

Frankpledge was revived, now applying to the unfree and villeins.
Our Legal Heritage, 5th Ed.
S. A. Reilly
However, the principle of the frankpledge was still enforced.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 1 "Franciscans" to "French Language"
Various
Mr. Gammon swore by Frankpledge, who had been at school with him, and was a "rising man."
Ten Thousand a-Year. Volume 1.
Samuel Warren
Mortmain belonged to the old school—Frankpledge steered by the new lights.
Ten Thousand a-Year. Volume 1.
Samuel Warren
Mr. Frankpledge quoted so many cases, and went to the bottom of everything, and gave so much for his money—and was so civil!
Ten Thousand a-Year. Volume 1.
Samuel Warren

British Dictionary definitions for frankpledge

frankpledge

noun (in medieval England)

the corporate responsibility of members of a tithing for the good behaviour of each other
a member of a tithing
a tithing itself

Word Origin for frankpledge

C15: via Anglo-French from Old French franc free (see frank) + plege pledge

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012