Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Common \Com"mon\, n.
   1. The people; the community. [Obs.] ``The weal o' the
      common.'' --Shak.

   2. An inclosed or uninclosed tract of ground for pleasure,
      for pasturage, etc., the use of which belongs to the
      public; or to a number of persons.

   3. (Law) The right of taking a profit in the land of another,
      in common either with the owner or with other persons; --
      so called from the community of interest which arises
      between the claimant of the right and the owner of the
      soil, or between the claimants and other commoners
      entitled to the same right.

   {Common appendant}, a right belonging to the owners or
      occupiers of arable land to put commonable beasts upon the
      waste land in the manor where they dwell.

   {Common appurtenant}, a similar right applying to lands in
      other manors, or extending to other beasts, besides those
      which are generally commonable, as hogs.

   {Common because of} {vicinage or neighborhood}, the right of
      the inhabitants of each of two townships, lying contiguous
      to each other, which have usually intercommoned with one
      another, to let their beasts stray into the other's
      fields. - 

   {Common} {in gross or at large}, a common annexed to a man's
      person, being granted to him and his heirs by deed; or it
      may be claimed by prescriptive right, as by a parson of a
      church or other corporation sole. --Blackstone.

   {Common of estovers}, the right of taking wood from another's
      estate.

   {Common of pasture}, the right of feeding beasts on the land
      of another. --Burill.

   {Common of piscary}, the right of fishing in waters belonging
      to another.

   {Common of turbary}, the right of digging turf upon the
      ground of another.