death duty

noun

, British.

1. inheritance tax.

death duty

noun

1. a tax on property inheritances: in Britain, replaced in 1975 by capital transfer tax and since 1986 by inheritance tax Also calledestate duty

Word History and Origins

Origin of death duty¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

For the tax levied on the estate of deceased persons, and sometimes called “death duty,” see Succession Duty.

From Project Gutenberg

The best Death Duty I know is to do what the dead ask us and not what they'd turn in their graves if they knew of.

From Project Gutenberg

But there they go, wanting to take most of it in Death Duty.

From Project Gutenberg

When a man is dead, he is dead, and in estimating the death duty you have not to bother about how long he is going to live!

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• death tax
• estate tax