head money
C2Formal/Legal/Historical
Definition
Meaning
A fixed sum of money offered as a reward for capturing or killing a wanted person, especially an outlaw or criminal.
Money paid per head in certain contexts, such as historical taxation or per-capita payments, or prize money for a notable achievement in competition.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This is a specific, historical or specialized term. The primary sense is a bounty for a fugitive. Its extended use for per-capita payments is now archaic.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slightly more historical/archaic connotation in British English, possibly linked to colonial or maritime history. In American English, it is strongly associated with the Wild West and bounty hunting.
Connotations
UK: Historical, possibly naval (prize money). US: Frontier justice, bounty hunting.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both varieties, but more culturally resonant in US due to Western genre.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Authority] placed head money on [Fugitive].[Person] claimed the head money for [Capture/Killing].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a price on someone's head”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, legal, or criminology texts.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Used in law enforcement history or bounty hunting contexts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The colonial governor head-moneyed the rebel leaders.
American English
- The sheriff head-moneyed the outlaw gang.
adjective
British English
- The head-money proclamation was posted in the town square.
American English
- He was a head-money hunter, not a regular lawman.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The old film showed a poster with head money for a robber.
- In the past, governments sometimes offered head money for capturing pirates.
- The substantial head money on the fugitive attracted bounty hunters from across the territory.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a poster with a criminal's HEAD and a MONEY bag reward written on it.
Conceptual Metaphor
JUSTICE/LAW ENFORCEMENT IS A MARKET TRANSACTION (capture for payment).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as 'головные деньги'. Use 'вознаграждение за поимку' or 'цена за голову' (idiomatic).
Common Mistakes
- Using it to mean 'capital' or 'main funds'. Confusing it with 'head tax'. Using it in modern business contexts.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'head money'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in its core meaning. 'Head money' is a specific, often historical, term for a bounty, emphasizing the reward is for the person ('head') themselves.
Historically, yes (like a 'head tax'), but this usage is now archaic. The dominant modern understanding is the bounty meaning.
Rarely. Modern terms are 'reward', 'bounty', or 'capture reward'. 'Head money' is chiefly historical or literary.
Head money is a reward offered by authorities for capture/killing. Ransom is money demanded by captors for a victim's release.