philopena
Americannoun
-
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.
Etymology
Origin of philopena
1830–40, 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)
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He was lingering a moment with his neighbor, Baby Whittaker, while they ate a philopena, smiling and talking for all the world as if— But, after all, what did it matter?
From The Open Question a tale of two temperaments by Elizabeth Robins
Another, and highly reprehensible way of extorting a gift, is to have what is called a philopena with a gentleman.
From The Ladies' Guide to True Politeness and Perfect Manners or, Miss Leslie's Behaviour Book by Eliza Leslie
Should he fail to do this he must pay the philopena or forfeit.
From Literary Lapses by Stephen Leacock
"That little one, the guard, was my selection," he replied, indicating the philopena circlet.
From Horace Chase by Constance Fenimore Woolson
"We'll have something better than that, Miss Ruth—a philopena."
From Horace Chase by Constance Fenimore Woolson
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
