king's bounty
Low (historical/archaic term)Formal, historical, legal, or literary contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A sum of money or grant given by a sovereign as a reward or encouragement.
A historical term for a monetary reward granted by royal authority, often for specific public services like naval enlistment, destroying pests, or providing information. Can refer to a royal gift or largesse more generally.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is now largely archaic. It implies a grant or reward from sovereign authority, not a contractual payment. It is often capitalised ('King's Bounty') when referring to specific historical funds.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is equally historical in both variants. British usage may be slightly more familiar due to direct historical relevance to the British monarchy. The possessive 's' is used in both ('king's', 'queen's').
Connotations
Connotes historical tradition, royal prerogative, and pre-modern state functions. In the US, it is a purely historical term from the colonial era or discussions of British history.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary language in both regions, found mainly in historical texts, novels, or discussions of legal history.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The king's bounty [VERB: was offered/paid/given] for [NOUN PHRASE: information/wolves].The sailor received the king's bounty for [GERUND: enlisting/serving].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this phrase as a fixed unit.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, legal, or economic papers discussing pre-modern state finance or royal incentives.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
May appear in historical legal terminology referring to specific funds like 'Queen's Bounty' for clergy widows.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The king gave a king's bounty to the brave soldier.
- In the old story, a king's bounty was offered for the capture of the pirate.
- The historical records show a king's bounty was paid for every wolf's head delivered to the sheriff.
- The system of the king's bounty for naval recruits, while controversial, helped man the fleet during the Napoleonic wars.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a king (KING'S) being BOUNTY-ful, generously giving a bag of gold as a reward.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE STATE/ROYALTY IS A BENEFACTOR (The monarch's wealth is a source of gifts for public good).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'призовые деньги' (prize money) which is more contest-based. Closer to 'королевская награда' or 'государево жалованье'. 'Bounty' here is not 'изобилие'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a modern synonym for 'government grant'. Incorrectly pluralising as 'king's bounties' when referring to the concept generally. Confusing it with the brand name 'Bounty'.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most accurate description of 'king's bounty' in modern usage?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. A 'bounty' is any reward, often for capturing someone. 'King's bounty' specifies it is granted by royal authority and is a historical term.
Yes, during the reign of a queen, the equivalent term is 'queen's bounty'. For example, the 'Queen's Bounty' was a specific charitable fund.
No, it would sound archaic and inappropriate. Use terms like 'government grant', 'bonus', or 'incentive' instead.
No, it is not typically hyphenated. It is an open compound noun with a possessive: king's bounty.