[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

weregild \were"gild`\, n. as. wergild; wer a man, value set on
   a man's life + gild payment of money; akin to g. wehrgeld.
   root285. see were a man, and geld, n. o. eng. law
   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.
   1913 webster
see also:
were geld weregeld weregelt 

Weregild >> W Words
Weregild, definition of term: Weregild
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