English

Alternative forms

• frank-pledge
• frankenpledge

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, Vol. III, p. 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, Vol. I, p. 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