wergild
[ wur-gild, wer- ]
/ ˈwɜr gɪld, ˈwɛr- /
noun
(in Anglo-Saxon England and other Germanic countries)
money paid to the relatives of a murder victim in compensation for loss and to prevent a blood feud.
the amount of money fixed as compensation for the murder or disablement of a person, computed on the basis of rank.
Also
wer·geld
[wur-geld, wer-] /ˈwɜr gɛld, ˈwɛr-/,
were·gild.
Words nearby wergild
weren't,
werewolf,
werewolves,
werfel,
wergeland,
wergild,
werlhof's disease,
werner,
werner's syndrome,
wernerian,
wernerite
Example sentences from the Web for weregild
It seemed as if the old practice of the weregild (see p. 32) had been unexpectedly revived.
A Student's History of England, v. 1 (of 3) |Samuel R. Gardiner.I knew that no weregild, as the Saxon calls it, would be enough to save me from the Cornishman.
A Prince of Cornwall |Charles W. Whistler
British Dictionary definitions for weregild
wergild
weregild wergeld (ˈwɜːˌɡɛld, ˈwɛə-)
/ (ˈwɜːˌɡɪld, ˈwɛə-) /
noun
the price set on a man's life in successive Anglo-Saxon and Germanic law codes, to be paid as compensation by his slayer
Word Origin for wergild
Old English
wergeld, from
wer man (related to Old Norse
ver, Latin
vir) +
gield tribute (related to Gothic
gild, Old High German
gelt payment); see
yield