primogenitures

Noun

primogeniture (countable and uncountable, plural primogenitures)

1. The state of being the firstborn of the children of the same parents.
2. The principle that the eldest child has an exclusive right of inheritance.
   • On these grounds, I contend the mere possession of large property, which is all that primogeniture insures, is by no means a sufficient and unobjectionable qualification for a legislator.1835, Timothy Winterbottom, A Letter to Isaac Tomkins and Peter Jenkins on Primogeniture, 5th edition, page 7
3. (countable) An instance of such a right of inheritance, established by custom or law.
   • The King of Sardinia, by a decree of the 9th of Dec. has abolished—
     1. The prohibition against the erection of primogenitures and feudal rights, enacted by the 9th section of the edict of the 29th of July 1797, or by any other law; restricting, however, to those primogenitures and majorats only...1818, The Annual Register for the Year 1817, volume 59, page 142