reprisal

Definition of Reprisal in English :

1. reprisal

a retaliatory action against an enemy in wartime

WordNet Lexical Database for English. Princeton University. 2010.

Reprisal

noun

1. (often plural)

retaliatory action against an enemy in wartime, such as the execution of prisoners of war, destruction of property, etc

2.

the act or an instance of retaliation in any form

3.

(formerly) the forcible seizure of the property or subjects of one nation by another

noun

1. Obsolete

the forcible seizure of property or subjects in retaliation for an injury inflicted by another country

2.

the act or practice of using force, short of war, against another nation to obtain redress of grievances

3.

injury done, or the doing of injury, in return for injury received; retaliation or an act of retaliation, specif. in war, as the killing of prisoners

n.

1. The act or an instance of retaliating for a loss or injury.

2. The act or practice of forcibly seizing an enemy's goods or citizens in retaliation for a loss or injury inflicted.