Definition of: township

(toun′ship) noun
1. U.S. a A territorial subdivision of a county with certain corporate powers of municipal government for local purposes; also, the corporation or government thereof. b In New England, a local political unit governed by a town meeting.
2. A unit of area in surveys of U.S. public lands, normally six miles square, subdivided into 36 sections of one square mile each.
3. Brit. Anciently, an organized group of families forming the political unit of early society which existed prior to the parish. [OE tūnscipe <tūn a village, group of houses]