Pri's'age, n.

n. [O. Fr. prisage, a praising, valuing, taxing, L. Lat. prisagium, prisage. Cf. Fr. prise, a taking, capture, prize, and see PRIZE.] (O. Eng. Law.) (a.) A right belonging to the crown of England, of taking two tuns of wine from every ship importing twenty tuns or more; one before and one behind the mast. This, by charter of Edward I., was exchanged into a duty of two shillings for every tun imported by merchant strangers, and called butlerage, because paid to the king’s butler. Blackstone. (b.) The share of merchandise taken as lawful prize at sea, which belongs to the king or admiral. Smart.