Prisage

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Prisage \Pris"age\ (?; 48), n. [OF. prisage a praising, valuing,
     taxing; cf. LL. prisagium prisage; or from F. prise a taking,
     capture, prize. See {Prize}.] (O. Eng. Law)
     (a) A right belonging to the crown of England, of taking two
         tuns of wine from every ship importing twenty tuns or
         more, -- one before and one behind the mast. By charter


         of Edward I. butlerage was substituted for this.
         --Blackstone.
     (b) The share of merchandise taken as lawful prize at sea
         which belongs to the king or admiral.
         [1913 Webster]