frankpledge Hear it!

frankpledge definition

frank·pledge (fraŋk′plej′)

noun

  1. the system in old English law which made each man in a tithing responsible for the actions of other members
  2. a member under this system
  3. the tithing

Etymology: ME frank-plege < Anglo-Fr fraunc plege (see frank & pledge): prob. orig. a mistransl. of OE frith-borh, lit., peace pledge

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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