frankpledge

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frankpledge system by which each member of a tithing was responsible for every other. XV. — law L. franciplegium, latinization of AN. frauncplege, f. franc, FRANK + plege PLEDGE, mistranslation of OE., friðborh peace-pledge (frið, f. *frī- love, as in FRIEND), through the corrupt forms freo-, friborh, in which the first element was identified with free.

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