weregild

n. [ AS. wergild; wer a man, value set on a man's life + gild payment of money; akin to G. wehrgeld. √285. 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 ]