Geld

Geld (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Gelded or Gelt (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Gelding.] [Icel. gelda to castrate; akin to Dan. gilde, Sw. gälla, and cf. AS. gilte a young sow, OHG. galt dry, not giving milk, G. gelt, Goth. gilpa siclke.] 1. To castrate; to emasculate.

2. To deprive of anything essential.

Bereft and gelded of his patrimony.
Shak.

3. To deprive of anything exceptionable; as, to geld a book, or a story; to expurgate. [Obs.] Dryden.

Geld (?), n. [AS. gild, gield, geld, tribute, payment, fr. gieldan to pay, render. See Yield.] Money; tribute; compensation; ransom.[Obs.]

☞ This word occurs in old law books in composition, as in danegeld, or danegelt, a tax imposed by the Danes; weregeld, compensation for the life of a man, etc.