god's penny

noun

often capitalized G

: a penny or small sum paid as earnest money especially on concluding a purchase or hiring a servant

among merchants the god's penny binds the contract of sale

—Frederick Pollock & F. W. Maitland

called also argentum Dei, denarius dei, denier à dieu

Word History

Etymology

Middle English godes peny

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

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