different between mulct vs fightwite

English

Etymology

From Middle French mulcter (“to fine, punish”), from Latin multa (“penalty, fine”)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /m?lkt/
• Rhymes: -?lkt

Noun

mulct (plural mulcts)

1. (law) A fine or penalty, especially a pecuniary one.
   • 1819, Lord Byron, Don Juan, I:

     juries cast up what a wife is worth, / By laying whate'er sum in mulct they please on / The lover, who must pay a handsome price, / Because it is a marketable vice.

   • 1846, Thomas Babington Macauley, The History of England from the Accession of James II, Volume 3, Porter & Coates, Chapter XI:

     The Act of Uniformity had laid a mulct of a hundred pounds on every person who, not having received episcopal ordination, should presume to administer the Eucharist.

   • 1846, William H. Prescott, History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic, 10th ed., Volume I, page xxxvi, note

     […] by the Salic law, no higher mulct was imposed for killing, than for kidnapping a slave.

Translations

Verb

mulct (third-person singular simple present mulcts, present participle mulcting, simple past and past participle mulcted)

1. To impose such a fine or penalty.
2. To swindle (someone) out of money.

Translations

English

Etymology

fight +? wite

Noun

fightwite (plural not attested)

1. (historical, law) A mulct or fine imposed on a person for disturbing the peace with a fight or quarrel.