frankpledge

[ frangk-plej ]

/ ˈfræŋkˌplɛdʒ /

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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.

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Origin of frankpledge

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

Words nearby frankpledge

Franklin, The Autobiography of Benjamin, Franklin tree, frankly, frankness, Franko, frankpledge, Franks Peak, Franky, Frannie, franseria, frantic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use frankpledge in a sentence

Headborough, Borsholder, and Chief-Frankpledge are three words which describe the same functionary.
A History of Police in England|W. L. Melville Lee
It is not unlikely that the whole system of frankpledge grows out of this requirement.
Domesday Book and Beyond|Frederic William Maitland
The servants of the Crown were not, as now, bound in frankpledge for each other.
The History of England from the Accession of James II.|Thomas Babington Macaulay
The sheriff held his turn twice a year and viewed frankpledge once a year.
Our Legal Heritage, 5th Ed.|S. A. Reilly

A similar conclusion has been reached as to Canute's responsibility for the institution known as frankpledge.
Canute the Great|Laurence Marcellus Larson

British Dictionary definitions for frankpledge

frankpledge

/ (ˈfræŋkˌplɛdʒ) /

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