usu·ry /'yü-zhə-rē/ n [Medieval Latin usuria interest, lending at exorbitant interest, alteration of Latin usura use, interest (i.e., sum paid for use of money), from usus use]
1: the lending of money at exorbitant interest rates; specif: the crime of charging or contracting to charge an unlawfully high rate of interest
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam-Webster. 1996.