Dāne'gēld, n.

n. [A-S. danegeld. See DANE and GELD.] (Eng. Hist.) An annual tax formerly laid on the English nation for maintaining forces to oppose the Danes, or to furnish tribute to procure peace. It afterward became a permanent tax, raised by an assessment, at first of one shilling, afterward of two shillings, upon every hide of land throughout the realm. Wharton. Tomlins.