peerdomn.

1603 J. Florio tr. M. de Montaigne Ess. i. xli. 138 The women that succeeded in the Peere-domes [Fr. pairries] of France, had..right to assist, and privilege to pleade.

1835 Times 20 Oct. 2/3 Still the reform of the English peerdom is the question to be resolved.

1895 J. Chamberlain Speech House Comm. 13 May Wherever the suspicion of peerdom attached, a Committee must be appointed to inquire into the case.

1998 Herald (Glasgow) (Nexis) 27 Nov. 16 Surely Lord Dunglass would not mind being fixed up with Zoe Ball or Viscount Chewton with Geri Halliwell if it meant creating the acceptable face of hereditary peerdom?

1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Perrie, a Peeredome; the estate or dignitie of a Peere.

1652 P. Heylyn Cosmographie ii. sig. Aa6 There is reckoned one principate, 10 Earldoms, 12 Peerdoms, or Pairries.

1670 C. Cotton tr. G. Girard Hist. Life Duke of Espernon i. iii. 128 This Castle with the demean and territory belonging to it..was soon..advanc'd into a Dutchy, and Peerdom, under the Title of the Dutchy de la Valette.

1762 P. Murdoch tr. A. F. Büsching New Syst. Geogr. IV. 297 Menin is one of the twelve peerdoms or Patriatus.

1961 R. E. Geisey tr. C. Le Caron in Juristic Basis of Dynastic Right to French Throne 40 The title and priority of establishment of Peerdoms of other Princes and Lords, or for any other cause or occasion whatever.

1891 W. O. Newnham Arlesford Ess. 102 Terms of perfect loving intimacy and equality, perhaps I may be allowed to coin a word and to add ‘peerdom’, with our Father.

1898 Dublin Rev. Apr. 405 Supremacy..could not thus efface the peerdom of those over whom it was exercised.

1994 Seattle Times (Nexis) 21 Aug. l4 In many cases what distinguished the peer from near-peer men was simply this: the peer men's wives insisted on peerdom.

2001 Observer (Nexis) 9 Dec. 6 How he would have hated to be single in such partnered peerdom. So together we were the perfect faux couple.