Danegeld

[ deyn-geld ]

/ ˈdeɪnˌgɛld /

noun

(in medieval England) an additional tax on land believed to have been levied originally as a tribute to the Danish invaders but later continued for other purposes.

Also dane·geld, Dane·gelt, dane·gelt

[deyn-gelt] /ˈdeɪnˌgɛlt/.

Origin of Danegeld

before 1150; Middle English denegeld, danegeld, Old English (Domesday Book) Danegeld. See Dane, geld²

Example sentences from the Web for danegeld

“Danegeld” 991 For centuries our sadly fated Towns by them were devastated.

A Humorous History of England |C. Harrison
What could the statesmen, who were hoping to correct the assessment of the danegeld, make of so vague a statement?

Domesday Book and Beyond |Frederic William Maitland
He freed the church from the payment of Danegeld, and all services to the Crown.

Old and New London |Walter Thornbury
Various conjectures have been hazarded, and the unit is undoubtedly older than the Danegeld.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 4 |Various

It may fairly be said to have stood to the danegeld in the relation of rates to taxes.

Feudal England -- Historical Studies On The Eleventh And Twelfth Centuries |J.H. Round

British Dictionary definitions for danegeld

Danegeld

Danegelt (ˈdeɪnˌɡɛlt)

/ (ˈdeɪnˌɡɛld) /

noun

the tax first levied in the late 9th century in Anglo-Saxon England to provide protection money for or to finance forces to oppose Viking invaders

Word Origin for Danegeld

C11: from Dan Dane + geld tribute; see yield

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

Danegeld

noun

Origin of Danegeld

Example sentences from the Web for danegeld

British Dictionary definitions for danegeld

Danegelt (ˈdeɪnˌɡɛlt)

noun

Word Origin for Danegeld