Township
/ˈtaʊn.ʃɪp/noun
A division of land or local government unit, especially in parts of the United States and South Africa.
Did you know?The second half, *-ship*, is the same ancient word-family behind *friendship* and *leadership*, from Old English *-scīep*, meaning a state, condition, or office — so a township is, etymologically, a “town-condition.”
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
tūn
“An enclosure, farmstead, village, or settlement.”
Old English
OE
-scīep / -scipe
“State, condition, office, or collective quality.”
Middle English
ME
townschipe
“A township or the district belonging to a town.”
16th Century
English
township
“A town district or administrative division.”
Modern English
English
township
“A local administrative area or municipality, especially in certain countries.”
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