poundage

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A tax or commission based on value per pound sterling.
2. n. A rate or charge based on weight in pounds.
3. n. Weight measured in pounds.
4. n. Confinement of animals in a pound.
5. n. A fee charged for the redemption of impounded animals or other property.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A certain sum or rate per pound sterling; a tax, duty, or deduction of so much per pound; specifically, in English history, a duty of 12d. in the pound on exported or imported merchandise. See tonnage and poundage (under tonnage), and subsidy.
2. n. In law, an allowance to a sheriff or similar officer, computed by a percentage on the value of property seized by him or the amount of the judgment or process satisfied, as a compensation for his service.
3. n. In salt-manuf., the number of pounds of salt contained in one cubic foot of brine.
4. To assess or rate by poundage; collect as poundage.
5. n. The confinement of cattle in a pound.
6. n. A charge levied upon the owners of impounded cattle, both as a fine for trespass and to defray the cost of caring for the animals.
7. n. A commission of so much in a pound upon the earnings of weavers, paid in some parts of England to superintendents of weaving-plants.
8. n. The series of pounds in an abattoir in which animals can be kept until they are slaughtered.

Wiktionary

1. n. countable a charge based on the weight of something in pounds
2. n. countable a charge based on the value of something in pounds sterling
3. n. countable a weight measured in pounds
4. n. countable a fee charged for keeping an animal in a pound, or for its release
5. n. uncountable the keeping of an animal in a pound

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. A sum deducted from a pound, or a certain sum paid for each pound; a commission.
2. n. engraving A subsidy of twelve pence in the pound, formerly granted to the crown on all goods exported or imported, and if by aliens, more.
3. n. (Law) The sum allowed to a sheriff or other officer upon the amount realized by an execution; -- estimated in England, and formerly in the United States, at so much of the pound.
4. v. rare To collect, as poundage; to assess, or rate, by poundage.
5. n. Confinement of cattle, or other animals, in a public pound.
6. n. A charge paid for the release of impounded cattle.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. a fee charged for the recovery of impounded animals
2. n. placing private property in the custody of an officer of the law
3. n. weight expressed in pounds
4. n. a charge based on weight measured in pounds