Dictionary.net

Portions of the public domain given to soldiers for military services, by way of bounty.

On September 16, 1776, Congress passed a resolution, promising both commissioned and non-commissioned officers who would enlist in the cause of the Revolution certain "bounty lands," to be taken from the "Crown lands," or Northwest Territory, which was then claimed in portions by several States. Maryland protested vigorously against this resolution on the ground that she had no extra lands, and would therefore be unfairly taxed.