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Peter's pence

or Peter pence

noun
  1. an annual tax or tribute, originally of a penny, paid by certain English property owners to the papal see until the Reformation.
  2. a voluntary contribution to the pope, made by Roman Catholics.

Origin of Peter's pence

1175–1225; Middle English Peteres peni (singular)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
British Dictionary definitions for peter's pence

Peter's pence

Peter pence

noun
  1. an annual tax, originally of one penny, formerly levied for the maintenance of the Papal See: abolished by Henry VIII in 1534
  2. a voluntary contribution made by Roman Catholics in many countries for the same purpose

Word Origin for Peter's pence

C13: referring to St Peter, considered as the first pope
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012