wergild

American  

[wur-gild, wer-] / ˈwɜr gɪld, ˈwɛr- /

Also wergeld

noun

1. (in Anglo-Saxon England and other Germanic countries)

2. money paid to the relatives of a murder victim in compensation for loss and to prevent a blood feud.

3. the amount of money fixed as compensation for the murder or disablement of a person, computed on the basis of rank.

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wergild British  

/ ˈwɜːˌɡɛld, ˈwɜːˌɡɪld, ˈwɛə-, ˈwɛə- /

noun

1. the price set on a man's life in successive Anglo-Saxon and Germanic law codes, to be paid as compensation by his slayer

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Etymology

Origin of wergild

1175–1225; Middle English ( Scots ) weregylt, Old English wer ( e ) gild, equivalent to wer man (cognate with Gothic wair, Latin vir ) + gild geld ²; cognate with Middle Dutch weergelt, Old High German wergelt; see yield

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

wergild

Horse offered as wergild by Thorbiorn to Howard, 107 Dover.

From Hero-Myths & Legends of the British Race by M. I. (Maud Isabel) Ebbutt

When the troll saw that his attempt had failed, he was much alarmed and said: "Dearest Lillwacker, I will give you wergild for your brother, if you will only leave me alone."

From The Swedish Fairy Book by Various

In the second year Biargey again urged Howard to try for a wergild.

From Hero-Myths & Legends of the British Race by M. I. (Maud Isabel) Ebbutt

Then the troll begged for his life and said: "Dear Silverwhite, I will take wergild for my brothers, only bid your dogs be still, so that we may talk."

From The Swedish Fairy Book by Various

Such rudimentary wergild was often reckoned in wampum, or strings of beads made of a kind of mussel shell, and put to divers uses, as personal ornament, mnemonic record, and finally money.

From The Discovery of America Vol. 1 (of 2) with some account of Ancient America and the Spanish Conquest by John Fiske

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