Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun In anc. law: A wite, fine, or amercement paid as a composition for the shedding of blood.
  • noun The right to such compensation.
  • noun A riot in which blood was shed.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Anc. Law) A fine or amercement paid as part of a settlement for the shedding of blood; also, a riot wherein blood was spilled.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A penalty for committing bloodshed, specifically under Anglo-Saxon law a penalty to be paid to the king or aldorman as distinct from the wergild.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Old English blōdwīte.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word bloodwite.

Examples

    Sorry, no example sentences found.

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.