Link Centre Dictionary

reprisal

rep·ri·sal

UK/ɹɪˈpɹaɪzəl/ US/riˈpraɪzʌl/ rare archaic

noun

1.

a retaliatory action against an enemy in wartime

Origin

From Anglo-Norman reprisaille (French représaille), from Old Italian ripresaglia (Italian rappresaglia), from ripreso, past participle of riprendere (“to take back”), from Latin reprendere, earlier reprehendere (see reprehend).

Phrases

  • letter of marque and reprisal

Related words

Broader terms

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.