Reprisal \Re*pris"al\ (r?-priz"al), n. [F. repr?saille, It. ripresaglia, rappresaglia, LL. reprensaliae, fr. L. reprehendere, reprehensum. See Reprehend, Reprise.]

1. The act of taking from an enemy by way of reteliation or indemnity.

Debatable ground, on which incursions and reprisals continued to take place. --Macaulay.

2. Anything taken from an enemy in retaliation.

3. The act of retorting on an enemy by inflicting suffering or death on a prisoner taken from him, in retaliation for an act of inhumanity. --Vattel (Trans.)

4. Any act of retaliation. --Waterland.

Letters of marque and reprisal. See under Marque.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)