n.
- (in South Africa) a suburb or city of predominantly black occupation, formerly officially designated for black occupation by apartheid legislation.
- N. Amer. a division of a county with some corporate powers.
▸a district six miles square.
- Brit. historical a manor or parish as a territorial division.
▸a small town or village forming part of a large parish.
- Austral./NZ a small town.
- S. African a new area being developed for residential or industrial use by speculators.
Etymology
OE tūnscipe ‘the inhabitants of a village’ (see town, -ship).