something lost, taken away, or imposed as a penalty
the loss or forfeiting of something, esp of civil rights
(in pl, but treated as sing. or pl) a game in which articles are deposited, e.g. for making a mistake has to be, and then redeemed by performing a task such as singing a song
an article deposited or a task performed in the game of forfeits
[Middle English from Old French forfait, past part. of forfaire to commit a crime, forfeit, from for- out (from Latin foris) + faire to do, from Latin facere]