apron-string hold

English

Pronunciation

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Noun

apron-string hold (plural apron-string holds)

1. (idiomatic, obsolete, informal) An estate held by a man during his wife's life.
   • 1872, W. O. von Horn, The Rhine: History and Legends of Its Castles, Abbeys, Monasteries, and Towns, J. Niedner, page 270:

     He resided at Staleck and the fief made was converted into an "apron-string hold" and hereditary fief, for the benefit of his wife and daughter; for that in opposition to the Emperor himself, he had remained firm to the Archbishop in a Diet held at Mainz.

References

• [Francis] Grose [et al.] (1811) “Apron-string hold”, in Lexicon Balatronicum. A Dictionary of Buckish Slang, University Wit, and Pickpocket Eloquence. […], London: […] C. Chappell, […], →OCLC.