Meaning of deodand | Babel Free

Definitions

1. An object forfeited to the state (and supposedly to God) because it had caused the death of a person.
   historical
2. A fine equal to the value of this object, paid by the owner of the object.
   historical

Examples

“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.”

“pay the deodand”

CEFR level