Middle English Dictionary Entry
tǒunship(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | tǒunship(e n. Also tounshup, touneship(pe & (early) tunscipe, (gen.) tuncipes. |
| Etymology | OE tūnscipe |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The occupants of a town or village; a community; also, the legal residents of a town; (b) a territorial unit composed of a town or village and the land belonging to it; tounshipes mot, an assembly for such a unit.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1160 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1137 : Gif twa men oþer iii coman ridend to an tun, al þe tunscipe flugæn for heom.
- (1443) Proc.Chanc.in Cal.PCEliz.1.p.xxxvi : The saide vicary..hafe founden a preste in the saide toun of Stretton..ministryng there all maner of sacrementes..to all the townschip of Stretton.
- (1444) RParl.5.111a : The seid Shirref..assesse well and duly every Tounship withinne the seid Hundredes therto assessable, to a certeyn somme for the paiement of the said wages.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)129a : A Townshipe [vr. Towneschyppe]: villata.
- (1482) RParl.6.205a : The same Duc shall have to hym and to his seid heires..almaner Fynes..goodes of Felonys..Wrekke of the See, Tresour founde..of Shirreffs, Escheatours, Commissioners and other persones, Townes and Towneships, [etc.].
- a1500(1444) Let.Curteys in RS 96.3 (Add 7096)265 : Credence committed by the kyng..unto..thabbot of Bury..for to shewe..on his behalve to þe prelatz, towneships, knyghtes, squiers, thriftymen, and oþer comminaltees within his said shire of Suffolk.
b
- (1155-58) Chart.R.PRO4.183 : Sciatis me concessisse monachis..homines suos liberos et quietos de..placitis et querelis et portmannesmot et tuncipesmot.
- (1414) RParl.4.57a : Besecheth..Thomas Paunfeld, oon of the fre tenauntz of oure liege Lord the Kyng, of his Maner and Tounshipe of Chestreton..that ȝe wole considere, [etc.].
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)172/31 : He desyrith more grete lordshuppe, othyr lytill rente, than a townshup of londe, othyr a grete Some of catele.
- a1500(1440-46) Let.Curteys in RS 96.3 (Add 7096)274 : We have doo come befor us alle þe constablis of iche tounship within þe seid hundrid, and oþer men of substaunce.