EDHILING, EDHILINGUS, an ancient appellation of the nobility among the Anglo-Saxons.
The Saxon nation, says Nithard (Hist. lib. iv.) is divided into three orders or classes of people; the edhilingi, the frilingi, and the laxzi: which signify the nobility, the freemen, and the vassals or slaves.
Instead of edhiling, we sometimes meet with atheling, or atheling; which appellation was likewise given to
Edhiling the king's son, and the presumptive heir of the crown.
II See ATHELING.
Edinburgh. EDICT, in matters of polity, an order or instrument, signed and sealed by a prince, to serve as a law
to his subjects. We find frequent mention of the edicts Edicts of the prator, the ordinances of that officer in the Roman law.