Obs. Also 6–7 bonnaght, bonoghty, 7 bonaught, bonnoght. [Irish: O’Reilly has buanacht subsidy, quartering of soldiers; O’Donovan buanacht military service.]
A tax or tribute formerly levied by Irish chiefs for the maintenance of soldiers.
1568. in Dymmok, Ireland, App. (1843), 88. Bonaghtes due to the Queens Majestie for her Galloglasses.
1586. J. Hooker, Girald. Irel., in Holinshed, II. 78/2. The Irish impositions of quinio and liverie, cartings, carriages … bonnaght and such like.
1633. T. Stafford, Pac. Hib., v. (1821), 69. Large promises, for increasing his Bonnoght.
1827. Hallam, Const. Hist. (1876), III. xviii. 357. The barbarous practices of coshering and bonaght … borrowed from those native chieftains.
