healsfang en · NOUN
Etymology
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”).
Meanings
- (historical) In Anglo-Saxon law, a fine or mulct of uncertain character.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| healsfangs | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| healsfang | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| halsfang | alternative | lexicographic |