Geld (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Gelded or Gelt (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Gelding.] [Icel. gelda to castrate; akin
to Dan. gilde, Sw. gälla, and cf. AS. gilte
a young sow, OHG. galt dry, not giving milk, G. gelt,
Goth. gilpa siclke.] 1. To castrate; to
emasculate.
2. To deprive of anything
essential.
Bereft and gelded of his
patrimony.
Shak.
3. To deprive of anything exceptionable; as,
to geld a book, or a story; to expurgate. [Obs.]
Dryden.
Geld (?), n. [AS. gild,
gield, geld, tribute, payment, fr. gieldan to
pay, render. See Yield.] Money; tribute; compensation;
ransom.[Obs.]
☞ This word occurs in old law books in composition, as in
danegeld, or danegelt, a tax imposed by the Danes;
weregeld, compensation for the life of a man, etc.