deodand Definition
an object that was forfeited to the Crown and then sold, with the proceeds being used for religious purposes, because it had caused a person's death.
Using deodand: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "deodand" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
In medieval England, a horse that caused a person's death might be declared a deodand and forfeited to the Crown.
Origins of deodand
from Latin 'deo dandum', meaning 'to be given to God'
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Summary: deodand in Brief
The term 'deodand' [ˈdiːəʊdænd] refers to an object that caused a person's death and was forfeited to the Crown, with the proceeds being used for religious purposes. In medieval England, horses were sometimes declared deodands.
