How Do You Spell PRISAGE?

Pronunciation: [pɹˈɪsɪd͡ʒ] (IPA)

The word "prisage" is not commonly used in modern English, but it refers to the right to collect taxes on wine in medieval times. The IPA phonetic transcription for "prisage" is /ˈprɪzɪdʒ/, which helps explain its unusual spelling. The "pr" at the beginning is pronounced like "pre" and the "is" is pronounced like "iz," with the stress on the first syllable. The "age" at the end is pronounced like "idge" and is not related to the word's meaning but instead serves as a common suffix in English.

PRISAGE Meaning and Definition

  1. Prisage refers to the act of seizing or taking possession of goods or belongings as a form of taxation or duty. It is an archaic term predominantly used in historical contexts, particularly during the medieval and early modern periods.

    In medieval times, many societies employed customs and duties on goods and commodities brought into a region or transported across borders. Prisage was a tax levied on certain goods, such as alcohol, grain, or other staples, by a governing authority. It involved the act of forcibly acquiring a portion of the goods being imported or exported, often at a predetermined rate determined by the ruling power.

    The collection of prisage was typically conducted by customs officers or officials who were specifically designated to oversee and enforce these duties. These officials would ensure that the stipulated amount of goods was confiscated and accounted for, as per the regulations set by the governing body. Prisage was often utilized as a means to generate revenue for the state or monarchy and to control the flow of goods into and out of a particular region.

    As time progressed and modern taxation systems emerged, prisage gradually fell out of use. It is now largely seen as an obsolete practice, having been replaced by more sophisticated and standardized tax systems based on volume or value. However, the term may still be encountered in historical documents or literature associated with the trade and economic practices of medieval and early modern times.

  2. A duty formerly paid to the sovereign of England on wine imported; the share of merchandise taken as a lawful prize at sea, belonging to the admiral or sovereign.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for PRISAGE

  • prasage
  • Brosage
  • orisage
  • lrisage
  • 0risage
  • peisage
  • pdisage
  • pfisage
  • ptisage
  • p5isage
  • p4isage
  • prjsage
  • prksage
  • prosage
  • pr9sage
  • pr8sage
  • priaage
  • prizage
  • prixage
  • pridage

Etymology of PRISAGE

The word "prisage" has its origins in Old French. It comes from the verb "prendre", which means "to take" or "to seize" in French. In medieval times, "prisage" referred to the right or act of taking or seizing something, specifically in relation to the medieval custom of wine and beer duties. Over time, the term "prisage" came to be associated with the act of taking or claiming things as a form of taxation or tribute.

Plural form of PRISAGE is PRISAGES

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