[f. WARDEN sb.1 + -SHIP.]
1. Guardianship, safe-keeping, rare.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 4253. Þe wardein-scipp of al his aght Has putifar ioseph bi-taght. Ibid., 4643. I wil him do at vndertak þe wardanscipp of al mi land.
1890. H. Frederic, Lawton Girl, 63. All the nameless feminine yearnings for wardenship and shelter from life’s battle took voice and pleaded in her heart.
2. The office or position of a warden, in various uses of that word.
1464. Rolls of Parlt., V. 520/2. Any Graunte … made … to Maister William Say … of the custodie or Wardenship of the Hous or Hospitall of Seint Antony in oure Cite of London.
1481. in Engl. Gilds (1870), 332. If any of the Jornaymen refuse to take the office of Wardynschippe.
1536. Act 28 Hen. VIII., c. 11. Euery … hospitall, wardenshyppe, prouostshyppe, or other spiritual promocion.
1628. Earl Manch., in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), I. 267. Your wardenship when I found undispatched I would not let longer to stick.
1651. N. Bacon, Disc. Govt. Eng., II. xv. 136. The power and place of the Wardenship of the Kingdome doth utterly vanish by the personall accesse of the King.
1691. A. Wood, Ath. Oxon., I. 398. In the Wardenship of Mert. coll succeeded Nath. Brent.
1791. Ann. Reg., St. Papers, 153*. There is no longer wardenships, or corporations of professions, arts, and crafts.
1804. G. Rose, Diaries (1860), II. 191, note. The Wardenship of the Cinque Ports.
1870. Daily News, 12 Nov. The Wardenship of St. Peter’s College, Radley, has been filled by the selection of [etc.].
3. nonce-use. The funds in the hands of or set apart for a warden or wardens.
1424. Cov. Leet Bk., 83. Þe wich xl s. com oute of the wardenship and thei owen to haue hit agayn.
