boroughship rare.
(ˈbʌrəʃɪp)
[Two words: (1) f. borough + -ship, answering in formation (though without historical connexion) to OE. burhscipe; (2) f. OE. borh pledge, security (see borrow) + -ship.]
1. A township; the fact of constituting a borough or township.
| c 1000 ælfric Gloss. in Wr.-Wülcker Voc. 144 Municipium, burhscipe. 1862 Macm. Mag. Mar. 415 They could not have kept up tribeship, and they took instead of it, their boroughship,—which..consisted in a making up of social tribes on neighbourhood, instead of kindred on blood. |
2. The condition of being security for the good behaviour of neighbours; frank-pledge.
| 1864 Reader 23 July 98/3 The..institution of boroughship, or lawbinding of the landholders as pledges, each for the other's lawful behaviour. |