Obs. local. [Interpreted as f. FRITH sb.2 + BURGHER; but perh. originally connected with FRITHBORH.]
1587. in Chambers’ Bk. Days, I. 728. The Lord Bailiff … issued his summons … to choose four ‘Frith Burghers’ … to act as jurymen.
1769. De Foe’s Tour Gt. Brit., III. 151. If the Offence was committed … within the Bounds of the Forest, then there were Frithbourgers also to judge of the Fact, who were to be summoned out of the Forestholders, as they are called, who were to hold of that Frith, that is of the Forest.
1825. Hone, Every-day Bk., I. 145. This officer summoned a jury of frith-burghers to try him.
