geld

¹

[ geld ]

verb (used with object)

, geld·ed or gelt, geld·ing.

1. to castrate (an animal, especially a horse).
2. to take strength, vitality, or power from; weaken or subdue.

geld

²

[ geld ]

noun

, English History.

1. a payment; tax.
2. a tax paid to the crown by landholders under the Anglo-Saxon and Norman kings.

geld

¹

/ ɡɛld /

verb

1. to castrate (a horse or other animal)
2. to deprive of virility or vitality; emasculate; weaken

geld

²

/ ɡɛld /

noun

1. a tax on land levied in late Anglo-Saxon and Norman England

Derived Forms

• ˈgelder, noun

Other Words From

• gelder noun
• un·gelded adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of geld¹

1250–1300; Middle English gelden < Old Norse gelda

Origin of geld²

1600–10; < Medieval Latin geldum payment, tribute < Germanic; compare Old English geld, German Geld

Word History and Origins

Origin of geld¹

C13: from Old Norse gelda, from geldr barren

Origin of geld²

Old English gield service, tax; related to Old Norse gjald tribute, Old Frisian jeld, Old High German gelt retribution, income

Example Sentences

By 1086 the number of houses had decreased to 100, and of these 20 were in such a wretched condition that they could not pay geld.

From Project Gutenberg

One-third of the geld was paid to Geoffrey de Coutances, bishop of Exeter, who threw up the earthworks of the castle.

From Project Gutenberg

Well, she's heir of all this isle (for I will geld monster).

From Project Gutenberg

Come, knave, it were a good deed to geld thee, by Cock's bones!

From Project Gutenberg

One great purpose seems to mould both its form and its substance; it is a geld-book.

From Project Gutenberg