Emily Dickinson Lexicon

FRAN'CHISE, n. [fran'chiz; Fr. from franc, free; It. franchezza; Sp. and Port. franqueza. See Frank. Properly, liberty, freedom. Hence,]

1. A particular privilege or right granted by a prince or sovereign to an individual, or to a number of persons; as, the right to be a body corporate with perpetual succession; the right to hold a court leet or other court; to have waifs, wrecks, treasure-trove, or forfeitures. So the right to vote for governor, senators and representatives, is a franchise belonging to citizens, and not enjoyed by aliens. The right to establish a bank is a franchise.
2. Exemption from a burden or duty to which others are subject.
3. The district or jurisdiction to which a particular privilege extends; the limits of an immunity. Spenser.
4. An asylum or sanctuary, where persons are secure from arrest. Churches and monasteries in Spain are franchises for criminals. Encyc.