murdrum noun2 •(UK, historical) A secret killing, distinguished from simple homicide in that the victim and the killer are unknown.Death by misadventure or starvation might be a 'murdrum' if there was no presentment of Englishry. — 1873 •(UK, historical) A fine imposed by the Crown on a manor or district in which such a secret killing had been committed.By the thirteenth century the collection of murdrum was primarily for the benefit of the Exchequer and significantly added to the burden of the eyre on the localities. — 2006
