English dictionary
deodand
/'d/i//@/,d/&/nd/
Definitions, examples, synonyms and antonyms from WordNet 3.0.
noun
-
A personal chattel which had caused the death of a person, and for that reason was given to God, that is, forfeited to the crown, to be applied to pious uses, and distributed in alms by the high almoner. Thus, if a cart ran over a man and killed him, it was forfeited as a <i>deodand</i>.
Source: webster1913