tithingman

noun

tith·​ing·​man
ˈtīt͟hiŋˌman
plural tithingmen
1
: the chief man of an old English tithing
2
: a British local peace officer
3
[tithing entry 2 + man] : a collector of tithes
4
a
: an elected local official having the functions of a peace officer in various American colonies (as Maryland and in New England)
b
: an annually elected official chosen in New England towns until well into the 19th century and charged primarily with preserving order in church during divine service and enforcing the observance of the Sabbath

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English tēothingman, from tēothung + man

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near tithingman

Cite this Entry

“Tithingman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tithingman. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!