(formerly) a thing that had caused a person's death and was forfeited to the crown for a charitable purpose: abolished 1862
Word origin
C16: from Anglo-French deodande, from Medieval Latin deōdandum, from Latin Deō dandum (something) to be given to God, from deus god + dare to give
deodand in American English
(ˈdioʊˌdænd)
noun
English; Obsolete
an item of personal property, as an animal, that causes a person's death and is consequently forfeited to the crown to be used for some pious purpose
Word origin
Anglo-Fr deodande < ML(Ec) deodandum < Deo dandum, lit., to be given to God < L Deo, dat. of Deus, God + dandum, ger. of dare, to give: see UNRESOLVED CROSS REF