Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Weregilt, -gylt, -gehelde, Vergelt, Wargeld, -ȝeld, -yhelde, Yaryhelde, n. [ME and e.m.E. wergeld (1235), weregelt (c1290), wergelt (14th c.), weregeld, -gild (both 1614), OE werᵹild, uuerᵹeld.] The price of compensation set for a crime or debt. b. Recompense, reward, requital (for a crime committed). — 14.. Acts I 53/2.
Of the law that is callyt weregylt [Acts I 53/1, De weregehelde furis] Of everilk theyff throu al Scotland quhether that he be bondman or freman the weregilt [Acts I 53/1, weregehelde; Acts I 270/2, wargeld] is xxxiiij ky and ane halffe 14.. Acts I 370/2.
Cum … creditor capit namos debitoris et dat eos ad plegium primo secundo et tercio de quindena in quindenam vsque ad yaryhelde et tunc debitor inueniat legales plegios de haymald et namj debent appreciari 14.. Acts I 371/1.
Quandocunque aliquis namos suos in waryhelde capit namj debent appreciari et plegius de haymalde inueniri et tunc debent vendi 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 70b.
Of the vergelt or ranson of ane theif … The vergelt or ranson of ane theif, throw all Scotland is threttie kye; and ane ȝoung kow, quhither he be ane frie man or ane servant —b. a1400 Leg. S. xlviii 205.
Se ȝe spare hir nocht That gret wrang til ȝour godis wrocht … For-thi gyf hir hir warȝeld nov