peership
(ˈpɪəʃɪp)
[f. peer n. + -ship.]
1. The status of a peer; = peerage 2.
| 1577 F. de L'isle's Legendarie C iij b, Parliament did also..expulse the Duke of Guise..from his fore sitting, which by reason of his Peereshippe he chalenged aboue a prince of France. 1817 Bentham Parl. Reform (1818) 52 Say whether Peership is honesty. |
† b. The fief of a (French) peer; = peerage 2 b.
| 1594 R. Ashley tr. Loys le Roy 55 b, Dukedoms, Principalities, and Peereships patrimoniall. 1727–41 [see peer n. 4 b]. |
2. Parity, equality.
| 1641 Lords Spiritual 15 There is much more parity or peerships betweene the Lords Spirituall and Temporall,..then betweene the Commons and any one of them. 1884 W. C. Wilkinson Edw. Arnold ii. vi. 156 He claims that Buddha raised woman to peership with man. |