prisage

prisage [ˈpraɪzɪdʒ]

n

(Historical Terms) a customs duty levied until 1809 upon wine imported into England

[from Anglo-French, from Old French prise a taking or requisitioning, duty, from prendre to take; see prise]

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prisage

1. the former privilege of the English monarch to receive two tuns of wine from every ship importing twenty tuns or more.
2. Also called butlerage. a duty of two shillings on every tun imported by foreign merchants.
3. (in England) the Crown’s share of merchandise seized lawfully as a prize at sea.

See also: Ships