n. (pl. -ies) 1 liberality; generosity. 2 a gift or reward, made usu. by the State, esp.: a a sum paid for a valiant act. b a sum paid to encourage a trading enterprise etc. c a sum paid to army or navy recruits on enlistment. bounty-hunter a person who pursues a criminal or seeks an achievement for the sake of the reward. King's (or Queen's) bounty hist. a grant made to a mother of triplets.
[ ME f. OF bonté f. L bonitas -tatis f. bonus good ]