FRANCHISE

I. noun see: frank Date: 14th century freedom or immunity from some burden or restriction vested in a person or group, 2. a special privilege granted to an individual or group, a constitutional or statutory right or privilege, c. the right or license granted to an individual or group to market a company's goods or services in a particular territory, the territory involved in such a right, 3. the right of membership in a professional sports league, a team and its operating organization having such membership, II. transitive verb (~d; franchising) Date: 14th century free , to grant a ~ to