n. (pl. -ies) 1 the office or dignity or power of a king or queen, sovereignty. 2 a royal persons. b a member of a royal family. 3 a sum paid to a patentee for the use of a patent or to an author etc. for each copy of a book etc. sold or for each public performance of a work. 4 a a royal right (now esp. over minerals) granted by the sovereign to an individual or corporation. b a payment made by a producer of minerals, oil, or natural gas to the owner of the site or of the mineral rights over it.
[ ME f. OF roialté (as ROYAL) ]