(Hidagium), was an extraordinary tax payable to the kings of England for every hide of land. This taxation was levied not only in money, but in provision, armour, &c.; and when the Danes landed in Sandwich in 994, King Ethelred taxed all his lands by hides; so that every 310 hides found one ship furnished, and every eight hides furnished one jack and one saddle, to arm for the defence of the kingdom, &c. Sometimes the word hidge was used for the being quit of that tax; which was also called hidegild; and interpreted, from the Saxon, "a price or ransom paid to save one's skin or hide from beating."