| Ransom | n. [ OE. raunson, raunsoun, OF. rançon, raençon, raançon, F. rançon, fr. L. redemptio, fr. redimere to redeem. See Redeem, and cf. Redemption. ] 1. The release of a captive, or of captured property, by payment of a consideration; redemption; as, prisoners hopeless of ransom. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. The money or price paid for the redemption of a prisoner, or for goods captured by an enemy; payment for freedom from restraint, penalty, or forfeit. [ 1913 Webster ] Thy ransom paid, which man from death redeems. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ] His captivity in Austria, and the heavy ransom he paid for his liberty. Sir J. Davies. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. (O. Eng. Law) A sum paid for the pardon of some great offense and the discharge of the offender; also, a fine paid in lieu of corporal punishment. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]
Ransom bill (Law), a war contract, valid by the law of nations, for the ransom of property captured at sea and its safe conduct into port. Kent. [ 1913 Webster ]
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| Ransom | v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Ransomed p. pr. & vb. n. Ransoming. ] [ Cf. F. rançonner. See Ransom, n. ] 1. To redeem from captivity, servitude, punishment, or forfeit, by paying a price; to buy out of servitude or penalty; to rescue; to deliver; as, to ransom prisoners from an enemy. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. To exact a ransom for, or a payment on. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ] Such lands as he had rule of he ransomed them so grievously, and would tax the men two or three times in a year. Berners. [ 1913 Webster ] |
| Transom | n. [ Probably fr. L. transtrum a crossbeam, transom, from trans across. Cf. Trestle. ] 1. (Arch.) A horizontal crossbar in a window, over a door, or between a door and a window above it. Transom is the horizontal, as mullion is the vertical, bar across an opening. See Illust. of Mullion. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. (Naut.) One of the principal transverse timbers of the stern, bolted to the sternpost and giving shape to the stern structure; -- called also transsummer. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. (Gun.) The piece of wood or iron connecting the cheeks of some gun carriages. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. (Surg.) The vane of a cross-staff. Chambers. [ 1913 Webster ] 5. (Railroad) One of the crossbeams connecting the side frames of a truck with each other. [ 1913 Webster ]
Transom knees (Shipbuilding), knees bolted to the transoms and after timbers. --
Transom window. (Arch.) (a) A window divided horizontally by a transom or transoms. (b) A window over a door, with a transom between. [ 1913 Webster ]
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