God's penny
/ˌɡɒdz ˈpɛni/(also Godspenny, Godpenny)
noun
1A small sum paid as an initial instalment on striking a bargain, especially on concluding a purchase or the hiring of a servant. Compare arles-penny, earnest penny. Now English regional ( Yorkshire ) and historical.
2A penny or small sum given in charity. Now rare.
Origin
Middle English; earliest use found in Ayenbite of Inwyt. From the genitive of god + penny, so called on account of being originally devoted to some religious or charitable purpose.
- receptance
- receptant
- receptary
- receptibility
- receptible
- reception
- reception centre
- reception class
- reception committee
- receptionism
- receptionist
- reception order
- reception room
- reception statute
- reception town
- receptive
- receptive field
- receptive language
- receptively
- receptiveness
- receptive spot
- receptivity
- receptor
- receptoral
- receptor-destroying enzyme