poundage

n. tax per pound sterling; tax per pound of weight; fee paid to release an animal from a pound

In English law, poundage is an archaic form of customs duty imposed on imports and exports. Poundage was applied at a rate of 12 old pence in the pound (equivalent to five pence in the pound today). Poundage was introduced in 1302 and abolished in 1787.
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Noun
1. a charge based on weight measured in pounds
(hypernym) charge
2. a fee charged for the recovery of impounded animals
(hypernym) fee
3. weight expressed in pounds
(hypernym) weight
4. placing private property in the custody of an officer of the law
(synonym) impoundment, impounding, internment
(hypernym) seizure
(hyponym) drug bust, drugs bust
(derivation) pound, pound up
(classification) law, jurisprudence

(v. t.)
To collect, as poundage; to assess, or rate, by poundage.
  

(n.)
The sum allowed to a sheriff or other officer upon the amount realized by an execution; -- estimated in England, and formerly in the United States, at so much of the pound.
  

(n.)
Confinement of cattle, or other animals, in a public pound.
  

(n.)
A sum deducted from a pound, or a certain sum paid for each pound; a commission.
  

(n.)
A subsidy of twelve pence in the pound, formerly granted to the crown on all goods exported or imported, and if by aliens, more.
  

(n.)
A charge paid for the release of impounded cattle.
  

Synonyms and related words:
accommodation, avoirdupois, beef, beefiness, burden, capacity, carriage, cartage, content, cordage, deadweight, drayage, expressage, fatness, freight, freightage, gravity, gross weight, haulage, heaviness, heft, heftiness, limit, liveweight, measure, neat weight, net, net weight, overbalance, overweight, ponderability, ponderosity, ponderousness, quantity, room, space, stowage, tonnage, underweight, volume, weight, weightiness