Reprisal is the retaking, from an enemy, goods which he has seized, or the capture from him of other goods, as an equivalent for the damage he has wrought. Letters of Reprisal are the same as Letters of Marque (q.v.).
Reprisal
Chambers's Encyclopaedia, Volume 8: Peasant to Eoumelia, p. 651
Source scan(s): p. 0662