freehood

English

Etymology

From free +‎ -hood. Probably modelled after German Freiheit (“freedom”), Dutch vrijheid (“freedom”). More at freedom.

Noun

freehood (usually uncountable, plural freehoods)

1. (rare or nonstandard) The state or condition of being free; freedom.
   • 1897, Grant Allen, Cities of Belgium:

     Here the citizens of Ghent took the oath of allegiance to each new Count on his accession, after they had compelled him to swear in good old Teutonic style "to uphold and see upheld all the standing wits (laws), fore-rights (regulations), freehoods, and wonts of the Countship and town of Ghent."

   • 1957, John Steinbeck, Holiday:

     Freedom is not Freitum, but Freiheit, literally freehood.

   • 1981, John Barth, Giles goat-boy:

     "Stop him once, George, he shouldn't swallow!" Leonid, supine, had decided to wave one arm and sing as he expired. "Releasedom! Freehood! Death to Selfity!"

   • 2000, Lyman C. Jackson, Donna Hickey-Jackson, Jan Duncan, Your Yellow Brick Road - Grab Toto and Run!:

     A more proper term would be 'freehood', as something attained in a manner not dissimilar to the principle of a required development to achieve knighthood.