blood money

English

Noun

blood money (uncountable)

  1. (informal) Money that is obtained at the cost of another's life.
    • 1970, “Damned for All Time / Blood Money”, in Tim Rice (lyrics), Andrew Lloyd Webber (music), Jesus Christ Superstar:
      Judas: I don't want your blood money!
      Caiaphas: Oh, that doesn't matter: our expenses are good.
      Judas: I don't need your blood money!
      Annas: But you might as well take it; we think that you should.
  2. Money paid (as by a killer or the killer's clan) to the family of a person who has been killed.
    Hyponyms: bloodwite, diyya, wergeld

Translations
money paid to the family of someone killed — see wergeld

See also
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