[re.pri.sal] n [ME reprisail, fr. MF reprisaille, fr. OIt ripresaglia, fr. ripreso, pp. of riprendere to take back, fr. ri- re- (fr. L re-) + prendere to take, fr. L prehendere--more at get] (15c) 1 a: the act or practice in international law of resorting to force short of war in retaliation for damage or loss suffered b: an instance of such action
2. obs: prize
3: the regaining of something (as by recapture)
4: something (as a sum of money) given or paid in restitution--usu. used in pl.
5: a retaliatory act