Main Entry: re·pri·sal

Pronunciation: \ri-ˈprī-zəl\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English reprisail, from Anglo-French reprisaile, from Medieval Latin represalia, from Old Italian rappresaglia, ultimately from ripreso, past participle of riprendere to take back, from ri- re- (from Latin re-) + prendere to take, from Latin prehendere — more at get

Date: 15th century

1 a : the act or practice in international law of resorting to force short of war in retaliation for damage or loss suffered b : an instance of such action
2 obsolete : prize
3 : the regaining of something (as by recapture)
4 : something (as a sum of money) given or paid in restitution —usually used in plural
5 : a retaliatory act