Obs. exc. Sc. dial. Forms: α. 3 freolac, -aic, -ec, vreoleic. β. 6 frelege, -lige, -lag(e, 7 freledge, 6–7 freelege, 9 freelage. [OE. *fréo-lác, f. fréo, FREE a. + lác: see -LOCK (fréolác occurs only as a compound of lác neut. oblation).
In the later β forms the suffix -lege has been substituted for OE. -lác, on the analogy of knowledge, or possibly by the same process that has led to the substitution in that instance.]
† 1. = FREEDOM in various senses: esp. in later use, a franchise or privilege. Obs.
α. a. 1225. Ancr. R., 286. Anker, of oðer freolac, haueð ibeon oðerhwules to freo of hire suluen.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 2366.
| Ha … bisohte … | |
| þæt he for his freolec, | |
| firstede hire. |
c. 1230. Hali Meid., 7. Nis þis þeowdom inoh aȝain þat ilke freolaic þat ha hefde.
β. 1513. Douglas, Æneis, IX. iii. 47. Quhat God hes to hym grantit sik frelage?
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., III. 359.
| In strang presoun, but ransoun or frelag, | |
| This nobill man quihilk wes the moir pitie, | |
| Withoutin reuth of hunger maid to die. |
1593. B. Barnes, Parthenophil & P., iv. in Arb., Garner, V. 341.
| Whom thou in person guardest! (lest suborners | |
| Should work his freelege, or in secret take him). |
1593. Rites & Mon. Ch. Durh. (Surtees), 36. A frelige graunted by God and Sancte Cuthbert, for every such offender to flie unto for succour and safegard of there lyves.
1641. H. Best, Rural Economy in Yorkshire in 1641 (Surtees), 173. Grace my wife and her mayde to have theire dyet in such sorte with my sonne Paull as they used to have when I was lyveinge, and the freledge of the gardens.
1674. Ray, N. C. Words, 19. Freelege; Sheffield: Privilege, Immunitas.
2. Sc. dial. ‘An heritable property, as distinguished from a farm, Roxb.’ (Jam.)
attrib. 1805–11. A. Scott, Poems, 42 (Jam.).
| Altho’ he had a freelage grant | |
| O’ mony a tree, herb, flower, and plant, | |
| Yet still his breast confess’d a want. |
