lex talionis
/lɛks ˌtalɪˈəʊnɪs
/noun [mass noun]
The law of retaliation, whereby a punishment resembles the offence committed in kind and degree: the lex talionis of feud violence and blood money...
- He defends a strict application of the lex talionis (law of retribution) - that is, he holds to equality both in proportion and in kind of harm inflicted.
- This was indeed the purpose of the lex talionis.
Origin
Latin, from lex 'law' and talio(n-) 'retaliation' (from talis 'such').