frankpledge

enUK

frank·pledge

F0300100 (frăngk′plĕj′)n.1. An Anglo-Saxon legal system in which units or tithings composed of ten households were formed, in each of which members were held responsible for one another's conduct.2. A member of a unit in frankpledge.
[Middle English frankplegge, from Anglo-Norman frauncpledge : Old French franc, free, frank; see frank1 + Old French plege, pledge; see pledge.]

frankpledge

(ˈfræŋkˌplɛdʒ) (in medieval England) n1. (Historical Terms) the corporate responsibility of members of a tithing for the good behaviour of each other2. (Historical Terms) a member of a tithing3. (Historical Terms) a tithing itself[C15: via Anglo-French from Old French franc free (see frank) + plege pledge]

frank•pledge

(ˈfræŋkˌplɛdʒ)

n. Old Eng. Law. 1. a system of dividing a community into tithings, with each member being responsible for the conduct of others in the group. 2. a member of a tithing. [1250–1300; Middle English fra(u)nkplegge < Anglo-French frauncplege. See frank1, pledge]