Lordship
/ˈlɔːrd.ʃɪp/noun
The state, title, or authority of a lord.
Did you know?The first part of lordship goes back to Old English hlāford, originally meaning “loaf-warden” or “bread keeper,” a reminder that power once came from who fed the people.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*hlaibardaz / *hlaibwardaz
“likely “loaf-keeper, bread guardian””
Old English
OE
hlāford
“master, ruler, lord; literally a bread-guardian”
Old English
OE
-sċip
“state, condition, office, rank”
Middle English
ME
lordshipe
“lordship, authority, dominion, dignity of a lord”
Modern English
English
lordship
“the rank, authority, or title of a lord”