The Collaborative International Dictionary
Headborough \Head"bor*ough\ Headborrow \Head"bor*row\(h[e^]d"b[u^]r*[-o]), n.
The chief of a frankpledge, tithing, or decennary, consisting of ten families; -- called also borsholder, boroughhead, boroughholder, and sometimes tithingman. See Borsholder. [Eng.]
--Blackstone.(Modern Law) A petty constable. [Eng.]
Wiktionary
n. 1 (context UK legal obsolete English) The chief man of a tithing; a headborough; one elected to preside over the tithing. 2 (context legal English) A peace officer; an underconstable. 3 (context US dialect English) A parish officer elected annually to preserve good order in the church during divine service, to make complaint of any disorderly conduct, and to enforce the observance of the Sabbath.
Usage examples of "tithingman".
When a couple quarreled, it was a tithingman who went to them to help them iron it out, or to separate them for a time if that was needed.
When someone was breaking the sumptuary laws, or using coarse language, or otherwise offending against the standards that helped them all stay pure, it was a tithingman who tried, peacefully, to persuade them to mend their ways without the need of dire remedies.
When the door opened, Reverend Study and the tithingmen found her sitting on a side chair, her eyes closed, her hands clasped in her lap, the classic pose of the soul who refused to be touched by the evils of the world.
One of the tithingmen, Ezekial Shoemaker, took a group of grim-looking men on horseback to try to block escape downriver, while the other, Hiram Peaseman, kept his men with Purity as they walked the path that the witches must have taken.
If he did not immediately surrender himself, the tithingmen would be taking along two, not just one.
Harvard got raided by the tithingmen and half the faculty hauled off for questioning.
But the tithingmen were decent human beings and the Unmaker had to herd them.
Anyone who seemed to like to boss others about would simply be overlooked when the next round of tithingmen were chosen.
When someone was breaking the sumptuary laws, or using coarse language, or otherwise offending against the standards that helped them all stay pure, it was a tithingman who tried, peacefully, to persuade them to mend their ways without the need of dire remedies.
Please summon the tithingmen to help me obey the Lord's injunction in the Bible.
If he did not immediately surrender himself, the tithingmen would be taking along two, not just one.
Then, walking from his rostrum to the tithingmen, he said, "I'm happy to go with you and help you dispel any misconception that might have arisen.
And, to Verily's great pleasure, the witcher and the tithingmen were running both Alvin and Purity.
That's why Harvard got raided by the tithingmen and half the faculty hauled off for questioning.
But the tithingmen were decent human beings and the Unmaker had to herd them.