Dictionary

freehood en · NOUN

Etymology

From free + -hood. Probably modelled after German Freiheit (“freedom”), Dutch vrijheid (“freedom”). More at freedom.

Meanings

1. (nonstandard, rare, uncountable, usually) The state or condition of being free; freedom.
   • Freedom is not Freitum, but Freiheit, literally freehood. 1957, John Steinbeck, Holiday:
   • A more proper term would be 'freehood', as something attained in a manner not dissimilar to the principle of a required development to achieve knighthood. 2000, Lyman C. Jackson, Donna Hickey-Jackson, Jan Duncan, Your Yellow Brick Road - Grab Toto and Run!:
   • Here the citizens of Ghent took the oath of allegiance to each new Count on his accession, after they had compelled him to swear in good old Teutonic style "to uphold and see upheld all the standing wits (laws), fore-rights (regulations), freehoods, and wonts of the Countship and town of Ghent." 1897, Grant Allen, Cities of Belgium:
   • "Stop him once, George, he shouldn't swallow!" Leonid, supine, had decided to wave one arm and sing as he expired. "Releasedom! Freehood! Death to Selfity!" 1981, John Barth, Giles goat-boy:

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