borough-English

[ bur-oh-ing-glishor, often, -lish, buhr- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

(formerly, in some parts of England) a custom by which the youngest son inherited the entire estate upon the death of his father.

borough-English

See gavelkind, primogeniture
English law (until 1925) a custom in certain English boroughs whereby the youngest son inherited land to the exclusion of his older brothers Compare primogeniture gavelkind

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50

C14: from Anglo-French tenure en burgh Engloys tenure in an English borough; so called because the custom was unknown in France

The original of this claim, as of our tenure of Borough English, is variously delivered.

Borough English was the native custom which had succeeded in holding its ground against the effects of the Norman Conquest.

The area over which this Borough English tenure prevails is an exceedingly wide one.

From this nefarious degradation of woman the custom of Borough-English arose, the youngest son becoming the heir.

The origin of the custom of Borough English has been much disputed.

April 19, 2024tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

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