deodand
[ dee-uh-dand ]
/ ˈdi əˌdænd /
noun English Law.
(before 1846) an animal or article that, having been the immediate cause of the death of a human being, was forfeited to the crown to be applied to pious uses.
Origin of deodand
1520–30; < Medieval Latin
deōdandum (a thing) to be given to God < Latin
deō to God (dative singular of
deus) +
dandum to be given (neuter gerund of
dare to give)
Words nearby deodand
denys,
denîs,
deo gratias,
deo volente,
deoch-an-doruis,
deodand,
deodar,
deodorant,
deodorize,
deodorizer,
deontic
Example sentences from the Web for deodand
British Dictionary definitions for deodand
deodand
/ (ˈdiːəʊˌdænd) /
noun
English law
(formerly) a thing that had caused a person's death and was forfeited to the crown for a charitable purpose: abolished 1862
Word Origin for deodand
C16: from Anglo-French
deodande, from Medieval Latin
deōdandum, from Latin
Deō dandum (something) to be given to God, from
deus god +
dare to give