frankpledge

See also: frank-pledge

English

Alternative forms

• frank-pledge
• frankenpledge

Etymology

From Anglo-Latin franciplegium, a Latinisation of Anglo-Norman frauncplege ("free pledge"), a mistranslation of Old English friðborh ("pledge of peace") {which had the corrupted form friborh, which led to the Modern English term friborg}, as if it were *freoborh ("free pledge"). See also friborg, which refers to the predecessor of frankpledge.

Noun

frankpledge (plural frankpledges)

1. (law, historical) A form of collective suretyship and punishment under English law among the members of a tithing.
   • 1806, Francis Bloomfield, An Essay Towards a Topographical History of the County of Norfolk, Vol. IV, p. 517:

     King John granted to the prior and convent, in all their manors and lands, sac, soc, tol, and theam, infangenthef, and outfangenthef, with the ordeals or judgment by fire, water, and iron, and a common gallows in each manor; with a view of frankenpledge, and assize of bread and ale, of all their tenants...

2. Any group so similarly answerable for the conduct of all its members and liable for collective punishment.
   • 1855, Thomas Babington Macaulay, The History of England from the Accession of James II, volume III, page 13:

     The servants of the Crown were not, as now, bound in frankpledge for each other.

3. (law, historical) A decener: a member of a tithing bound in frankpledge.
   • 1765, William Blackstone, Commentary on the Laws of England, volume I, page 114:

     Entire vills sir Henry Spelman conjectures to have consisted of ten freemen, or frank-pledges.

4. (law, historical, uncommon) The tithing itself.

Derived terms

• view of frankpledge