primogenitureshipn.

1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán Rogue ii. 59 It is likely to proue..an immortall kinde of businesse, like vnto that of your Mayorasgos, or Primo-genitureship, which your fathers settle vpon their eldest sonnes [Sp. Los mayorasgos, que los fundan los padres para que lo gozen los hijos].

1762 P. Murdoch tr. A. F. Büsching New Syst. Geogr. IV. 156 The Emperor Frederick I..introduced into the house of Austria the right of primogenitureship.

1791 T. Paine Rights of Man i. 69 All the younger branches of those [aristocratic] families were disinherited, and the law of primogenitureship set up.

1822 J. Flint Lett. from Amer. 177 Local attachments are much weakened by the open prospects of an extensive country, by the abolition of primogenitureship, and by the introduction of laws that promote family justice.

1830 Examiner 259/1 A younger brother, corrupted at heart with envy by the injustice of primogenitureship.

1858 F. Lancelott Queens of Eng. & Their Times ii. 276/2 The Duke of York's claim by primogenitureship was prior to that of Henry.

1924 Amer. Jrnl. Sociol. 30 17 It still retains hereditary aristocracy, and has not abolished primogenitureship.

2002 R. Farnsworth Infernal Return i. 71 (note) I have been following this discussion of Burke and the long English tradition of primogenitureship in Jane Austen scholarship.