township

English

Etymology

From Middle English towneship, townschip, tounshipe, tunscipe, from Old English tūnsċipe (“the inhabitants of a town; township”), equivalent to town +‎ -ship.

Pronunciation
  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈtaʊnʃɪp/
  • Audio (AU)(file)

Noun

township (plural townships)

  1. The territory of a town.
  2. (US, Canada) a subdivision of a county.
  3. (South Africa, Pre 1994) An area set aside for nonwhite occupation.
    • 1972, Daily Dispatch: "In addition, the council has completed the planning of a new Coloured township on the site of the existing African township"
  4. (South Africa, Post 1994) A nonwhite (usually subeconomic) area attached to a city.
  5. (Australia, New Zealand) a small town.

Usage notes

In the U.S. (derived from an obsolete UK usage), the term "township" refers to a division of a county, and may include one or more towns, villages, hamlets, or small cities. It may also be an administrative district for an unincorporated rural area. The exact nature of a township, and its role in local administration, differs from state to state.

squatter camp

Descendants

Translations

References

1978: A Dictionary of South African English edited by Jean Branford. Oxford.

French

Noun

township m (plural townships)

  1. township (in South Africa)
  2. (Canada) canton

Portuguese

Noun

township f (plural townships)

  1. (historical) township (area set aside for non-white occupation in South Africa)
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