from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Common \Com"mon\, n.
1. The people; the community. [Obs.] "The weal o' the
common." --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
2. An inclosed or uninclosed tract of ground for pleasure,
for pasturage, etc., the use of which belongs to the
public; or to a number of persons.
[1913 Webster]
3. (Law) The right of taking a profit in the land of another,
in common either with the owner or with other persons; --
so called from the community of interest which arises
between the claimant of the right and the owner of the
soil, or between the claimants and other commoners
entitled to the same right.
[1913 Webster]
{Common appendant}, a right belonging to the owners or
occupiers of arable land to put commonable beasts upon the
waste land in the manor where they dwell.
{Common appurtenant}, a similar right applying to lands in
other manors, or extending to other beasts, besides those
which are generally commonable, as hogs.
{Common because of vicinage} or {Common because of
neighborhood}, the right of the inhabitants of each of two
townships, lying contiguous to each other, which have
usually intercommoned with one another, to let their
beasts stray into the other's fields. -
{Common in gross} or {Common at large}, a common annexed to a
man's person, being granted to him and his heirs by deed;
or it may be claimed by prescriptive right, as by a parson
of a church or other corporation sole. --Blackstone.
{Common of estovers}, the right of taking wood from another's
estate.
{Common of pasture}, the right of feeding beasts on the land
of another. --Burill.
{Common of piscary}, the right of fishing in waters belonging
to another.
{Common of turbary}, the right of digging turf upon the
ground of another.
[1913 Webster]