Orphanage

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Orphanage \Or"phan*age\, n.
     1. The state of being an orphan; orphanhood; orphans,
        collectively.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. An institution or asylum for the care of orphans.


        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  orphanage
       n 1: the condition of being a child without living parents; "his
            early orphanage shaped his character as an adult" [syn:
            {orphanhood}]
       2: a public institution for the care of orphans [syn: {orphans'
          asylum}]

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  ORPHANAGE, Eng. law. By the custom of London, when a freeman of that city 
  dies, his estate is divided into three parts, as follows: one third part to 
  the widow; another, to the children advanced by him in his lifetime, which 
  is called the orphanage; and the other third part may be by him disposed of 
  by will. Now, however, a freeman may dispose of his estate as he pleases; 
  but in cases of intestacy, the statute of distribution expressly excepts and 
  reserves the custom of London. Lov. on Wills, 102, 104; Bac. Ab. Custom of 
  London, C. Vide Legitime.