seigniorage (n.)

also seignorage, "something claimed by a sovereign or superior as a prerpgative," mid-15c., from Old French seignorage, from seignor (see seignior). In the sense of "lordship, power, control, authority" English had seigniory (Middle English seignorie, c. 1300, from Old French).

updated on April 15, 2022