blood-money

Definition

Noun (uncountable): 1. Money paid as compensation for a killing: "blood-money" refers to a sum of money paid to the family of someone who has been killed, often as a form of reparation or to avoid blood feud. 2. Money paid to a witness or informer for securing a death sentence: Historically, "blood-money" also means a reward given to someone who provides evidence that leads to a capital conviction.

Usage Examples

• (Compensation for a killing.)
• (Reparation payment.)
• (Reward for a death sentence.)

Advanced Usage

• "to demand blood-money": to insist on monetary compensation for a murder.
  • The grieving family demanded blood-money from the killer's clan. (They required payment as recompense.)
• "blood-money payment": the act of transferring such funds.
  • The blood-money payment was made in gold coins. (The compensation was delivered.)

Variants and Related Words

• Blood price (n): a synonym for blood-money, especially in historical or legal contexts.
  • The blood price was set at one hundred camels. (The compensation amount.)
• Wergild (n): an Old English term for blood-money paid to the family of a slain person.
  • Wergild was a key concept in Anglo-Saxon law. (Historical compensation.)

Synonyms

• Compensation: payment made to make amends for harm.
• Reparation: the act of making amends for a wrong.
• Blood price: a direct synonym.

Related Idioms

• "to pay blood money": to offer financial recompense for a killing.
  • He paid blood money to avoid a blood feud. (He compensated the family.)

Cultural Note

• In many traditional societies, blood-money serves as a legal or customary alternative to capital punishment or vendetta. It is recognized in various legal systems, including Islamic Sharia law (where it is called ), and in some tribal codes.