magbote

M3A1G2B3O1T1E1
/ˈmeɪɡˌboʊt//ˈmeɪˌboʊt/

noun

Compensation paid by someone who killed their relative.

Scrabble 12

Meanings

nounmagbote (uncountable)

alternative maegbot · alternative maegbote

  1. 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 cl
    2 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 308

    Now 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

  1. Old Englishmǣġbōt“compensation paid to the kinsman of a murdered man”
  2. Englishmagbote

Learned borrowing from Old English mǣġbōt (“compensation paid to the kinsman of a murdered man”), from mǣġ (“kinsman”) + bōt (“remedy; remediation”). Compare manbote.

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

Cite this entry
APA

magbote. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/magbote

MLA

“magbote.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/magbote. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “magbote,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/magbote.

Source: magbote on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.