noun

1. Historical the forcible seizure of property or subjects in retaliation for an injury inflicted by another country
2. the act or practice of using force, short of war, against another nation to obtain redress of grievances
3. injury done, or the doing of injury, in return for injury received; retaliation or an act of retaliation, specif. in war, as the killing of prisoners

Etymology: ME reprisail < MFr reprisaille < It rappresaglia < riprendere, to take back < L reprehendere: see reprehend