Definition of FRANKPLEDGE

frankpledge

Meanings

Plural: frankpledges

Noun

  • A form of collective suretyship and punishment under English law among the members of a tithing.
  • Any group so similarly answerable for the conduct of all its members and liable for collective punishment.
  • A decener: a member of a tithing bound in frankpledge.
  • The tithing itself.

Origin / Etymology

From Anglo-Latin franciplegium, a Latinization 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.

Scrabble Score: 22

frankpledge is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
frankpledge is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
frankpledge is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 26

frankpledge is a valid Words With Friends word