[fran.chise] n [ME, fr. MF, fr. franchir to free, fr. OF franc free--more at frank] (14c) 1: freedom or immunity from some burden or restriction vested in a person or group
2. a: a special privilege granted to an individual or group; esp: the right to be and exercise the powers of a corporation b: a constitutional or statutory right or privilege; esp: the right to vote c (1): the right or license granted to an individual or group to market a company's goods or services in a particular territory; also: a business granted such a right or license (2): the territory involved in such a right 3 a: the right of membership in a professional sports league b: a team and its operating organization having such membership
[2]franchise vt fran.chised ; fran.chis.ing (14c) 1 archaic: free
2: to grant a franchise to