healsfang
English edit
Etymology edit
Learned borrowing from Old English healsfang (“fine prescribed in substitution for capital and other punishments”, literally “neck-taking", or "taking by the neck”), equivalent to halse + fang. Cognate with Icelandic hálsfang (“embracing”).
Noun edit
healsfang (plural healsfangs or healsfang)
- (historical) In Anglo-Saxon law, a fine or mulct of uncertain character.
Old English edit
Etymology edit
From heals (“neck”) + fang (“seizure”).
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
healsfang n
- a fine prescribed in substitution for capital and other punishments, preferential share of the wergeld
Declension edit
Declension of healsfang (strong a-stem)
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | healsfang | healsfang |
| accusative | healsfang | healsfang |
| genitive | healsfanges | healsfanga |
| dative | healsfange | healsfangum |