wergild

English - English

Definition of wergild in English English dictionary

[Saxon] price paid to a slain man's relatives

(lit "Man-Gold) The legal system of many Germanic tribes, including the Anglo-Saxons This tradition allowed an individual and his family to make amends for a crime by paying a fine known as wergild to the family of another man whom he had injured or killed The price varied, depending upon the nature of the injury and the status of the injured man Surviving laws of Wihtfrid (8th century AD) show how elaborate the wergild system had become by the ninth century, including a varying price in silver for each tooth knocked out during a fight If an individual cannot pay the wergild, the injured family was considered within its legal rights to kill a member of the culprit's family of similar rank and status This process often led to extended blood-feuds lasting several generations NB: Wergild should not be confused with Danegeld, the practice of paying extortive Vikings to go away without attacking

Hyphenation

wer·gild