Meanings
alternative maegbot · alternative maegbote
- historicaluncountableCompensation paid by someone who killed their relative.
If one kill another's Godson or Godfather, let the Magbote [to the Godfather, or Godson] and the Manbote be alike.
1720, John Johnson, A Collection of All the Ecclesiastical Laws, Canons, Answers, Or Rescripts, page cl2 more examples
As to the Cynegild or Mægbote, it appears also from Tacitus, that the whole Family received satisfaction for a Kinsman slain.
1685, William Howell, An Institution of General History, Or The History of the World, page 308Now if the King had a Mind to remit his Part of the Fine the Frithbote, he could not give away that of the others, nor prevent the Kindred from receiving their Magbote or Family Compensation.
1769, John Pettingal, An Enquiry Into the Use and Practice of Juries Among the Greeks and Romans, page 83
Origin
- Old Englishmǣġbōt“compensation paid to the kinsman of a murdered man”
- Englishmagbote
Learned borrowing from Old English mǣġbōt (“compensation paid to the kinsman of a murdered man”), from mǣġ (“kinsman”) + bōt (“remedy; remediation”). Compare manbote.
More words from Old English
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
magbote. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/magbote
“magbote.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/magbote. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “magbote,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/magbote.
Source: magbote on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.