Wergeld
/ˈwɜːrɡɛld/noun
A compensation payment prescribed by Germanic law for killing or injuring a person, usually paid to the victim’s family or community.
Did you know?Wergeld was not a flat fine: Germanic law often assigned different payment amounts according to a person’s social rank, making status literally measurable in silver.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wiHrós
“Man; male person”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*geldʰ-
“To pay; recompense”
Proto-Germanic
Germanic
*weraz + *geldą
“Man plus payment or compensation”
7th–11th Century
Old English
werġeld / weregild
“A legally निर्धारित compensation for killing or injuring someone”
12th–15th Century
Middle English
weregild / wergeld
“A monetary payment made in compensation for homicide or bodily injury”
Modern English
English
wergeld
“A historical Germanic legal payment for a person’s death or injury”