philopena
[ fil-uh-pee-nuh ]
/ ˌfɪl əˈpi nə /
noun
a custom, presumably of German origin, in which two persons share the kernels of a nut and determine that one shall receive a forfeit from the other at a later time upon the saying of a certain word or the performance of a certain action.
the thing shared.
the forfeit paid.
Also
fillipeen.
Origin of philopena
1830–40,
Americanism; earlier
philippina < Dutch
philippine < German
Vielliebchen, diminutive of
viellieb very dear; in earlier form
viellieb was taken as proper name
Philippe Philip and
-chen was made into feminine suffix
-ina, giving a woman's name; in later form the word was Anglicized along pseudo-classical lines (cf.
philo-,
penal)
Words nearby philopena
philologian,
philology,
philomel,
philomela,
philomelides,
philopena,
philoprogenitive,
philos.,
philosophaster,
philosophe,
philosopher