DCHP-1 Online

riding [Brit.E "an administrative division of a county, esp. Yorkshire" < ME thriding < ON thrithjungr a third part; the th- was lost by assimilation to the previous -t or -th in the compounds East Thriding, North Thriding, West Thriding]

• 1 n. Hist. in Upper Canada, a subdivision of a county, set up primarily for election purposes.

  See also: county (see note)  

  • 1792  (1906)  The said county of Glengarry, bounded as aforesaid, shall be divided into two ridings.
  • 1853  When I do seek the votes of the electors of the north riding, I shall fearlessly submit my qualifications and character to the judgment of all who can cast aside their personal feelings and look only to the public goo

• 2 n. a district encompassing a body of electors entitled to return a member to the House of Commons or to a legislative assembly.

  See also: electoral district  

  • 1890  In that riding the New Party had only 50 pledged members, but pulled nearly 800 votes.
  • 1900  The east and west ridings of Lilooet have a few names mentioned, but before the time comes a dark horse will no doubt appear in both fields.
  • 1957  At one time Spadina regularly returned J. B. Salsberg as an LPP [Communist] member to the Provincial Legislature, a habit that inspired a waggish reporter to tag it the "Little Red Riding."
  • 1958  Mr. Brundsen . . . represents one of two southern Alberta ridings containing irrigated sections. . . .
  • 1966  Opposition Leader Diefenbaker scored the new electoral map for Saskatchewan for lumping wheat farmers and city dwellers together in common ridings.