Definitions for "Danegeld"
Keywords:  danish, saxon, anglo, ravages, invade
An annual tax formerly laid on the English nation to buy off the ravages of Danish invaders, or to maintain forces to oppose them. It afterward became a permanent tax, raised by an assessment, at first of one shilling, afterward of two shillings, upon every hide of land throughout the realm.
The money paid by Anglo-Saxon Britain to persuade the Danes to not invade the South and West. Now means money extorted by threats. Due to the huge quantities of silver pennies paid in Danegeld, more pennies have been discovered in Denmark than in Britain.
a land tax levied on the CARUCATE, HIDE or SULONG, originally to buy off Danish attacks on late Anglo-Saxon England; in Norman times a normal peace-time tax raised almost every year.