reprisal

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

reprisal
    n 1: a retaliatory action against an enemy in wartime

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Reprisal \Re*pris"al\ (r?-priz"al), n. [F. repr?saille, It.
   ripresaglia, rappresaglia, LL. reprensaliae, fr. L.
   reprehendere, reprehensum. See {Reprehend}, {Reprise}.]
   1. The act of taking from an enemy by way of reteliation or
      indemnity.
      [1913 Webster]

            Debatable ground, on which incursions and reprisals
            continued to take place.              --Macaulay.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Anything taken from an enemy in retaliation.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. The act of retorting on an enemy by inflicting suffering
      or death on a prisoner taken from him, in retaliation for
      an act of inhumanity. --Vattel (Trans.)
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   4. Any act of retaliation. --Waterland.
      [1913 Webster]

   {Letters of marque and reprisal}. See under {Marque}.
      [1913 Webster]

from Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

33 Moby Thesaurus words for "reprisal":
      amends, avengement, avenging, blood feud, comeuppance,
      compensation, counterblow, desert, deserts, feud, getting even,
      indemnification, indemnity, just deserts, punishment, quittance,
      recompense, redress, repayment, requital, restitution, retaliation,
      retribution, revanche, revanchism, revenge, reward, sweet revenge,
      vendetta, vengeance, vindication, what is due, what is merited