Legal Definitions - hydegeld

Definition: Hydegeld (hId-geld) is a historical term used in England. It refers to a payment made as compensation for assaulting a servant who was trespassing on someone's property.

Example: In medieval England, if a servant of a lord or a landowner trespassed on someone else's land, and the owner of the land assaulted the servant, the owner had to pay hydegeld as compensation.

Explanation: The example illustrates how hydegeld was used as a form of compensation for an assault on a trespassing servant. It was a way to settle disputes between landowners and to ensure that servants were protected from harm while carrying out their duties.