borough-English

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

noun

1. (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

noun

1. 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of borough-English¹

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50

Word History and Origins

Origin of borough-English¹

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