deodand
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English
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman deodande, from Latin deodandum, from Deo dandum (“to be given to God”).
Noun
deodand (plural deodands)
- (historical, law) An object forfeited to the state (and supposedly to God) because it had caused the death of a person.
- 2024 May 9, Neil Gorsuch, “CULLEY ET AL. v. MARSHALL, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF ALABAMA, ET AL.”, in Opinions, Supreme Court of the United States:
- Really, it’s hard not to wonder whether some current civil forfeiture practices represent much less than a revival of the archaic common-law deodand.
- (historical, law) A fine equal to the value of this object, paid by the owner of the object.
- pay the deodand