Geld (?), n. [AS. gild, gield, geld, tribute, payment, fr. gieldan to pay, render. See Yield.]

Money; tribute; compensation; ransom.

[Obs.]

⇒ This word occurs in old law books in composition, as in danegeld, or danegelt, a tax imposed by the Danes; weregeld, compensation for the life of a man, etc.

 

© Webster 1913.


Geld (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Gelded or Gelt (); p. pr. & vb. n. Gelding.] [Icel. gelda to castrate; akin to Dan. gilde, Sw. galla, and cf. AS. gilte a young sow, OHG. galt dry, not giving milk, G. gelt, Goth. gilpa siclke.]

1.

To castrate; to emasculate.

2.

To deprive of anything essential.

Bereft and gelded of his patrimony. Shak.

3.

To deprive of anything exceptionable; as, to geld a book, or a story; to expurgate.

[Obs.]

Dryden.

 

© Webster 1913.

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