late Middle English: from Old French roialte, from roial(see royal). The sense royal right (especially over minerals) (late 15th cent.) developed into the sense payment made by a mineral producer to the site owner (mid 19th cent.), which was then transferred to payments for the use of patents and published materials
英英释义网络释义
noun
1.payment to the holder of a patent or copyright or resource for the right to use their property;