philopena

[ fil-uh-pee-nuh ]

/ ˌfɪl əˈpi nə /

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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.

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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

philology, philomath, philomel, Philomela, Philomelides, philopena, philophobia, philoprogenitive, philos., philosophaster, philosophe

How to use philopena in a sentence

I owe him a philopena, and that would have been a splendid way to pay it.
Tabitha at Ivy Hall|Ruth Alberta Brown
O, pouted Luella, I dont suppose that meant anything either, for I caught him in a philopena on the way home that day.
Aunt Crete's Emancipation|Grace Livingston Hill
This afternoon Aunt and I hunted all over town for philopena presents.
Polly the Pagan|Isabel Anderson
There were once a Prince and a Princess who, when quite young, ate a philopena together.
The Bee-Man of Orn and Other Fanciful Tales|Frank R. Stockton

They often thought of the philopena they had eaten together, and wondered if they should know each other when they met.
The Bee-Man of Orn and Other Fanciful Tales|Frank R. Stockton