frank-pledge noun. ['fraŋkplɛdʒ] ME.
[Law Latin franciplegium, Latinization of Anglo-Norman frauncplege, from Anglo-Norman fraunc, Old & mod. French franc FRANK adjective¹ + plege PLEDGE noun, mistranslation of frithborh s.v. FRITH noun¹, through the altered forms freoborg, friborg, in which the 1st elem. was identified with free.]
Law (now Hist.).
1. Each of the mutually responsible members of a tithing etc. Also (occas.) the tithing itself. ME.

2. The system by which each member of a tithing was responsible for the good conduct of, or damage done by, every other member. LME.
view of frank-pledge a court held periodically for the production of the members of a tithing or later of a hundred or a manor.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲