\Were"gild`\, n. [AS. wergild; wer a man, value set on
a man's life + gild payment of money; akin to G. wehrgeld.
[root]285. See {Were} a man, and {Geld}, n.] (O. Eng. Law)
The price of a man's head; a compensation paid of a man
killed, partly to the king for the loss of a subject, partly
to the lord of a vassal, and partly to the next of kin. It
was paid by the murderer. [Written also {weregeld},
{weregelt}, etc.] --Blackstone.