geldum

Forms

geldum n (genitive geldī); second declension; also gelda f and geldus m.^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Old English geld (“payment, tribute”), beside Middle English ȝeld.^[1] Köbler traces it further to Proto-Germanic *geldą (“payment, reward”).^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The earliest dated example is a grant of before 1069 freeing land from all gelds;^[1] Köbler likewise dates the word to before 1070.^[2]

Semantic evolution

In England it meant a payment or price, as in the Latin translation of the Old English laws,^[1] the tribute paid to the Danes (Danegeldum),^[1] and above all the tax paid to the king, assessed on the hide in the Domesday Book.^[1] Charters exempting land “from all gelds” use it into the 14th century.^[1]

Timeline

• before 1069 – Land is declared free of all gelds.^[1]
• 1085–1086 – The Domesday Book records the geld paid on each hide.^[1]
• 1331 – A record still frees land from gelds and danegelds.^[1]

Meanings

Noun

1. (Medieval Latin) A payment, price.^[1][2]
2. (Medieval Latin) The Danegeld.^[1]
3. (Medieval Latin) Geld, a tax payable to the king.^[1][2]

Usage notes

The DMLBS also records the forms gelda, geldus, gildum and giltum.^[1]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
2. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de