common

1) Of or belonging to the community, an adjective in frequent use in earlier centuries when ordinary people’s lives were controlled by the parish, township and manor.

We are accustomed to think of ‘common’ being applied to arable land, to the waste, and to lanes and highways but the following examples are an indication of its much wider currency: 1505 one Th. Ridell ... had certeyn lede at the common crane and ... thought he shuld not pay no duetye, York

1554 the vecar shall fynde a Comon bull & bore yerle, Wakefield

1588 a fine of iijs iiijd ... sett upon him for not making a common stile at St George’s close, York

1605 common kilne, Malham

1632 Comon Picks. Mdd that every picke coste ijs viijd, Burton Agnes

1665 for the Common Coffin for the towne, Howden

1676 hurryed him to the common stocks, Quarmby

1687 the common pound [pinfold], Huddersfield.

dates 1505 1554 1588 1605 1632 1676

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