A-mērçe'ment, n.

n. [L. Lat. amerciamentum, O. Fr. amerciment, amerciament.] (Law.) A pecuniary penalty inflicted on an offender at the discretion of the court. 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 practice of affeering. [See AP-FEER.] Blackstone.

☞ This word, in old books, is written amerciament.

Amercement royal, a penalty imposed on an officer for a misdemeanor in his office. Jacobs.