weregild

Were"gild`, n. Etym: [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.] (O. Eng. Law) Defn: 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. [Written also weregeld, weregelt, etc.] Blackstone.

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