deodand

American  

[dee-uh-dand] / ˈdi əˌdænd /

noun

English Law.

1. (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.

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deodand British  

/ ˈdiːəʊˌdænd /

noun

1. English law (formerly) a thing that had caused a person's death and was forfeited to the crown for a charitable purpose: abolished 1862

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Etymology

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)

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

deodand

As long ago as Bracton, /1/ in case a man was slain, the coroner was to value the object causing the death, and that was to be forfeited sa deodand "pro rege."

From The Common Law by Oliver Wendell Holmes

Newstead Abbey or Priory was founded by Henry II., by way of deodand or expiation for the murder of Thomas Becket.

From The Works of Lord Byron. Vol. 6 by Ernest Hartley Coleridge

The encounter fortunately took place upon a Friday, so that the combatants had both Saturday and Sunday, with the deodand of a slight fine for being absent from chapel, to recover appearances.

From Alec Forbes of Howglen by George MacDonald

Where a man is killed by a vessel at rest the cargo is not deodand; where the vessel is under sail, hull and cargo are both deodand.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 2 "Demijohn" to "Destructor" by Various

The verdict returned was "Accidental Death," with a deodand of five pounds upon the bull.

From Trevlyn Hold by Mrs. Henry Wood

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