blood money

American  

noun

1. a fee paid to a hired murderer.

2. compensation paid to the next of kin of a slain person.

3. money obtained ruthlessly and at a cost of suffering to others.

4. money paid to an informer in order to cause somebody to be arrested, convicted, or especially executed.

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blood money British  

noun

1. compensation paid to the relatives of a murdered person

2. money paid to a hired murderer

3. a reward for information about a criminal, esp a murderer

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