Word Study
Weregild
CIDE DICTIONARY
Weregild, n. [AS. wergild; wer a man, value set on a man's life + gild payment of money; akin to G. wehrgeld. Were a man, and Geld, n. ].
The price of a man's head; a compensation paid of a man killed, partly to the king for the loss of a subject, partly to the lord of a vassal, and partly to the next of kin. It was paid by the murderer. Blackstone. [1913 Webster]
ROGET THESAURUS
Weregild
Penalty
N penalty, retribution, pain, pains and penalties, weregild, wergild, peine forte et dure, penance, the devil to pay, fine, mulct, amercement, forfeit, forfeiture, escheat, damages, deodand, sequestration, confiscation, premunire, doomage.For further exploring for "Weregild" in Webster Dictionary Online