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Webster 1913 Edition

Commons

Com′mons

,
Noun.
pl.
,
1.
The mass of the people, as distinguished from the titled classes or nobility; the commonalty; the common people.
[Eng.]
’T is like the
commons
, rude unpolished hinds,
Could send such message to their sovereign.
Shakespeare
The word
commons
in its present ordinary signification comprises all the people who are under the rank of peers.
Blackstone.
2.
The House of Commons, or lower house of the British Parliament, consisting of representatives elected by the qualified voters of counties, boroughs, and universities.
It is agreed that the
Commons
were no part of the great council till some ages after the Conquest.
Hume.
3.
Provisions; food; fare, – as that provided at a common table in colleges and universities.
Their
commons
, though but coarse, were nothing scant.
Dryden.
4.
A club or association for boarding at a common table, as in a college, the members sharing the expenses equally;
as, to board in
commons
.
5.
A common; public pasture ground.
To shake his ears, and graze in
commons
.
Shakespeare
Doctors' Commons
,
a place near St. Paul's Churchyard in London where the doctors of civil law used to common together, and where were the ecclesiastical and admiralty courts and offices having jurisdiction of marriage licenses, divorces, registration of wills, etc.
–
To be on short commons
,
to have a small allowance of food.
[Colloq.]

Com′mon-ty

,
Noun.
(Scots Law)
A common; a piece of land in which two or more persons have a common right.
Bell.

Webster 1828 Edition

Commons

COMMONS

,
Noun.
plu.
1.
The common people, who inherit or possess no honors or titles; the vulgar.
2.
In England, the lower house of Parliament, consisting of the representatives of cities, boroughs and counties, chosen by men possessed of the property or qualifications required by law. This body is called the House of Commons. The House of Representatives in North Carolina bears the same name.
3.
Common grounds; land possessed or used by two or more persons in common.
4.
Food provided at a common table, as in colleges, where many persons eat at the same table or in the same hall.
Their commons, though but coarse, were nothing scant.
Doctors Commons, in London, a college founded by Dr. Harvey, for the professors of the civil law, where the civilians common together. The house was consumed in the great fire in 1666, but rebuilt in 1672. To this college belong thirty four proctors.

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