cattlewealth

English

Etymology

From cattle +‎ wealth.

Noun

cattlewealth (uncountable)

1. Wealth measured in the number of cattle owned.
   • 1962, Bulletin de la Société de Géographie d’Égypte, page 255:

     The cattlewealth seems to be related partly to the amount of land possessed by the groups and partly to their respective emphasis on the types of economy.

   • 1980, John L. Comaroff, Paul J. Scheuer, editors, The Meaning of Marriage Payments, →ISBN, page 70:

     Since everything, therefore, depends on the groom’s cattlewealth (meaning by this both the animals he actually possesses and those he can obtain from relatives and friends), it follows that actual bridewealth payments vary in amount.

   • 1998, School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University, Journal of International Affairs, volume 52, page 108:

     To Dinka youth, cattlewealth has an aesthetic significance far above its material value.