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 action2obsolete : prize3: the regaining of something (as by recapture)4: something (as a sum of money) given or paid in restitution —usually used in plural5: a retaliatory act