Definition of blood money

The phrase "blood money" originated from ancient Germanic and Anglo-Saxon legal practices. It referred to the payment made by a killer to the family of the victim as a form of compensation for the loss of life. This custom, known as "wegild," served as a way for the victim's kin to avenge their loved one's death without resorting to further violence, as the payment would deter the killer from committing additional crimes out of fear of retaliation. The term "blood money" conveyed the moral ambiguity of this practice, indicating that the money paid was tainted by the spilled blood and the lives lost. The concept of blood money has since evolved and is now associated with compensation paid for wrongdoing, although it continues to hold connotations of guilt, remorse, and moral compromise.