Amercement
Amercement ({not transcribed}) , noun
[Old French amerciment.]
The infliction of a penalty at the discretion of the court; also, a mulct or penalty thus imposed. It differs from a fine, in that the latter is, or was originally, a fixed and certain sum prescribed by statute for an offense; but an amercement is arbitrary. Hence, the act or practice of affeering. [See Affeer.] — Blackstone
This word, in old books, is written amerciament.
Collocations (1)
Amercement royal , a penalty imposed on an officer for a misdemeanor in his office. — Jacobs