amercement

plural amercements · alternative amerciament

1. countableuncountablelawA non-statutory monetary penalty or forfeiture, usually applied at the discretion of a court.

   29 March. The quhilk daye Thomas Garnes is fund in þe wrang and amerchiament of court, for þe violent ſchuting and towking of Dauid Fleming, officiar to the Cowparis, on frydaye laſt.

   29 March. The day which Thomas Garnes is found in the wrong and amercement of court, for the violent shooting and touching [beating] of David Fleming, officer to the Cowpers, on last Friday.

   1832, Burgh Records of the City of Glasgow, 1573–1581, records for year 1577, page 67

   1 more example

   This channel at one point gave occasion for a moss-grown bridge whereon the curious might inform themselves by the authority of a weather-beaten sign that while the road powers of the county of Sussex claimed the bridge and all that appertained to it, they expressly disclaimed liability for any sort of accident or ill that might be experienced there, and in fact held you strictly responsible and answerable in amercement.

   1934, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], The Bravo of London