Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun An old custom in certain English boroughs whereby the right to inherit an estate intestate went to the youngest son or, in default of male issue, to the youngest brother.
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
[Partial translation of Anglo-Norman tenure en burgh Engloys, tenure in an English borough; see borough.]
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Examples
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And to complicate matters yet further, for the few who wished to simplify them, the custom of "borough-English" prevailed, and governed the descent of dilapidations, making nice niceties for clever men of law.
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“borough-English” prevailed, and governed the descent of dilapidations, making nice niceties for clever men of law.
Erema Richard Doddridge 2004
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