spear penny

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See also: spear-penny

English

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Alternative forms

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spear-penny

Etymology

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From spear + penny, a calque translation of the Welsh ceiniog baladr, from ceiniog (penny) + paladr (shaft"; "spear).

Noun

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spear penny

  1. (historical, law) A fine under medieval Welsh law levied on related male landowners when the immediate kin of a murderer proved incapable of paying galanas