Webster's English Dictionary

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reprisal

re.pri.sal \ri-'pri--z*l\ n [ME reprisail, fr. MF reprisaille, fr. OIt 
   ripresaglia, fr. (Xripreso, pp. of riprendere to take back, fr. ri- re- 
   (fr. L re-) + prendere to take, fr. L prehendere - more at PREHENSILE 1a: 
   the act or practice in international law of resorting to force short of  
   war to procure redress of grievances 1b: an instance of such action  obs  
   2: PRIZE  3: the regaining of something (as by recapture)  4: COMPENSATION 
   - usu. used in pl.  5: a retaliatory act