What were the constituencies with hardly any voters, often controlled by a single wealthy family, known as?

Okay, let's talk about "rotten boroughs." Imagine a time in British history, before widespread democratic reforms, when the system of parliamentary representation was, well, a bit of a mess. Back then, representation was often based on ancient boundaries that hadn't kept pace with population shifts. So, you'd have some areas, once bustling towns, that had shrunk to almost nothing, maybe just a few houses or even a single field. Yet, they still retained the right to elect Members of Parliament. These areas, with their tiny electorates, became known as "rotten boroughs." Because so few people lived there, it was easy for a wealthy landowner or powerful family to control the election, essentially "buying" the seat in Parliament. The term "rotten" really highlights the corruption and lack of genuine representation associated with these constituencies. While "pocket boroughs" sounds similar, and also refers to constituencies under the control of an individual, "rotten boroughs" specifically describes those with a minuscule number of voters, making the control blatant and undemocratic. This system was eventually reformed in the 19th century, but the term "rotten borough" remains a vivid reminder of a less-than-fair past.