Danegeld

[ deyn-geld ]

noun
  1. (in medieval England) an additional tax on land believed to have been levied originally as a tribute to the Danish invaders but later continued for other purposes.

Origin of Danegeld

1
before 1150; Middle English denegeld, danegeld,Old English (Domesday Book) Danegeld.See Dane, geld2
  • Also danegeld, Dane·gelt, dane·gelt [deyn-gelt]. /ˈdeɪnˌgɛlt/.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use Danegeld in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for Danegeld

Danegeld

Danegelt (ˈdeɪnˌɡɛlt)

/ (ˈdeɪnˌɡɛld) /


noun
  1. the tax first levied in the late 9th century in Anglo-Saxon England to provide protection money for or to finance forces to oppose Viking invaders

Origin of Danegeld

1
C11: from Dan Dane + geld tribute; see yield

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012