Riding

In terminology derived from the Danelaw, the Ridings are the three parts into which Yorkshire in England was divided. The word is a corruption of the Old Norse thriding meaning a third part. The Yorkshire Ridings were East, North and West. In 1974, this division was abolished (see Yorkshire).

Under the Kingdom Of York, the Ridings themselves were sub-divided into wapentakes.

In semiofficial jargon of Canadian politics, a riding is a constituency or electoral district. The term is derived from the English local government term. There are currently 301 federal ridings in Canada, each of which elects a member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons. Each province and territory is also divided into ridings that elect members to the legislature.