/werr"gild, wer"-/ , n.
1. (in Anglo-Saxon England and other Germanic countries)
2. money paid to the relatives of a murder victim in compensation for loss and to prevent a blood feud.
3. the amount of money fixed as compensation for the murder or disablement of a person, computed on the basis of rank.
Also, wergeld /werr"geld, wer"-/ , weregild .
[ 1175-1225; ME (Scots) weregylt, OE wer ( e ) gild, equiv. to wer man (c. Goth wair, L vir ) + gild GELD 2 ; c. MD weergelt, OHG wergelt; see YIELD ]