The Collaborative International Dictionary
Amercement royal
Amercement \A*merce"ment\, n. [OF. amerciment.]
The infliction of a penalty at the discretion of the court;
also, a mulct or penalty thus imposed. It differs from a
fine, in that the latter is, or was originally, a fixed and
certain sum prescribed by statute for an offense; but an
amercement is arbitrary. Hence, the act or practice of
affeering. [See Affeer.]
--Blackstone.
Note: This word, in old books, is written amerciament.
Amercement royal, a penalty imposed on an officer for a
misdemeanor in his office.
--Jacobs.
Wiktionary
amercement royal
n. A penalty imposed on an officer for a misdemeanour in office.