In Anglo-Saxon and later medieval England: the chief member of a tithing (tithing, n.1 2) in a system of frank-pledge (frank-pledge, n.). Later: a…

the headman of a frithborh or frank-pledge; cf. thirdborough, n., headborough, n., borrow-head, n.1

In Anglo-Saxon and later medieval England: the chief member of a tithing or borrow (borrow, n. 3) in a system of frank-pledge (frank-pledge, n.)…

Formerly, The head man of a frithborh or frank-pledge; hence, the conservator of peace or peace-officer of a tithing, the petty constable of a…

One of the mutually responsible members of a tithing, etc. Occasionally the tithing or decenary itself.

The chief of a tithing (borrow, n. 3) or frank-pledge; afterwards a parish officer identical in functions with the Petty Constable (= borrow-head, n.1…

Originally the head of a friðborh or tithing (see borrow, n. 3); the word, with its synonyms borsholder, n., headborough, n., afterwards came to…

transferred. An overseer of ten households, a tithing-man.

(a) The head of a decena or tithing; a tithing-man or borsholder. (b) A member of a tithing.

a borrow-head, head-borough.

As a translation of medieval Latin decānus, applied in the ‘Laws of Edward the Confessor’ to the teoðing-ealdor, borsholder, headborough, or…