a reward paid for the capture or slaying of a fugitive, outlaw, etc
2. an archaic term for poll tax
head money in American English
noun
1.
a tax of so much per head or person
2.
a reward paid for capturing or killing an outlaw, fugitive, or the like
Word origin
[1520–30]This word is first recorded in the period 1520–30. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: bias, junior, monkey, normal, phrase