ship money

noun

English history a tax levied to finance the fitting out of warships: abolished 1640

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When an arbitrary imposition is attempted upon the subject, undoubtedly it will not bear on its forehead the name of Ship-money.

In 1634 Charles I. issued a writ levying ship-money, so called, on some seaport towns, without act of Parliament.

He rested the right of levying Ship-money on the "intrinsic, absolute authority of the King."

Even the ship-money Johnson would not pronounce to have been an unconstitutional impost.

That was a brave thing to do, sir, that about the ship money.

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