From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Geld \Geld\, n. [AS. gild, gield, geld, tribute, payment, fr.
gieldan to pay, render. See Yield.]
Money; tribute; compensation; ransom.[Obs.]
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Note: 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.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Geld \Geld\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Gelded or Gelt (?); p. pr. &
vb. n. Gelding.] [Icel. gelda to castrate; akin to Dan.
gilde, Sw. g[aum]lla, and cf. AS. gilte a young sow, OHG.
galt dry, not giving milk, G. gelt, Goth. gilpa siclke.]
1. To castrate; to emasculate.
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2. To deprive of anything essential.
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Bereft and gelded of his patrimony. --Shak.
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3. To deprive of anything exceptionable; as, to geld a book,
or a story; to expurgate. [Obs.] --Dryden.
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