groundage
(ˈgraʊndɪdʒ)
[f. ground n. + -age.]
1. † a. Some kind of toll or tax. Obs. rare—1.
| c 1440 Jacob's Well 29 Alle þo, þat don men of holy cherche..to paye toll, pyckage, murage, or grondage, panage or gwydage, for swyche godys as are noȝt led to feyres & markettes, be-cause of marchaundise. |
b. A duty levied on vessels lying upon a shore or beach, or entering a port; spec. in the City of London (see quot. 1854).
| 1567 St. Papers, Dom. Add. Eliz. 26 Such as touch or lie upon the shore a time, pay that money (1s.) to the officers there as groundage. 1609 Patent 7 Jas. I in Act 4 Geo. III, c. 26 Preamble, Tolls, duties, anchorages, groundages, profits, commodities, advantages..and appurtenances whatsoever. 1728 S. Jeake Charters Cinque Ports 57 note, Terrage, or Groundage, nothing to be paid for their Ships lying a Ground, or at Anchor in any of the King's Havens or Harbours. 1848 Wharton Law Lex., Groundage, a custom or tribute paid for the standing of a ship in port. 1854 Fraser's Mag. XLIX. 564 The groundage of corn is a duty of 6d. on every vessel with corn on board entering the port. |
c. (See quot.)
| 1852 J. Wiggins Embanking 138 In the cases of mines or quarries, the royalty, seignorage, or groundage varies according to circumstances, from one-eighth to..one twenty-fourth. |
† 2. Running aground, stranding. Obs. rare—1.
| 1477 W. Pekoe in Paston Lett. No. 807 III. 211 Sche had never no wrekke nor growndage till withinne this xx wynter. |
† 3. The bottom, as suitable or otherwise for anchorage. Obs. rare—1.
| 1637 T. Morton New Eng. Canaan (1883) 122 The groundage is a sandy sleech, free from rockes to gaule Cables, but is good for anchorage. |
† 4. The right of occupying ground. Obs. rare—1.
| 1721 Lond. Gaz. No. 5953/3 They shall have their Groundage..free, for such the two ensuing Fairs. |