rə̇ˈprīzəl, rēˈp- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English reprisail, from Middle French reprisaille, modification (influenced by Middle French repris, past participle of reprendre to take back) of Old Italian ripresaglia, from ripreso (past participle of riprendere to take back, recapture, from Latin reprehendere to hold back, seize, reprehend, recover) + -aglia -al (from Latin -alia, neuter plural of -alis -al)
1.
a. : the act or practice in international law of resorting to force short of war (as by embargo, sequestration, forcible seizure, retortion, or retaliatory acts of the nature of those complained of) to procure redress of grievances
b. : an instance of such action
2. obsolete : prize
this rich reprisal is so nigh and yet not ours — Shakespeare
3. : the regaining of something (as by recapture)
4. : something (as an amount or sum of money) given or paid in restitution : compensation — usually used in plural
5. : an action of retaliation (as for injury or attack)