deodand

English

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman deodande, from Latin deodandum, from Deo dandum (“to be given to God”).

Noun

deodand (plural deodands)

1. (historical, law) An object forfeited to the state (and supposedly to God) because it had caused the death of a person.
   • 2024 May 9, Neil Gorsuch, “CULLEY ET AL. v. MARSHALL, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF ALABAMA, ET AL.”, in Opinions‎^[1], Supreme Court of the United States:

     Really, it’s hard not to wonder whether some current civil forfeiture practices represent much less than a revival of the archaic common-law deodand.

2. (historical, law) A fine equal to the value of this object, paid by the owner of the object.

   pay the deodand

See also

• bane
• wergeld

Anagrams

• added on