deodand

listen to the pronunciation of deodand
English - English
An object forfeited by the state (and supposedly given to God) because it had caused the death of a person
{n} a forfeiture in law made to GOD
Thus, if a cart ran over a man and killed him, it was forfeited as a deodand
{i} animal or object which caused the death of a human being and as a result was given to the crown and put to charitable use (according to an English law which was abolished in 1846)
A personal chattel which had caused the death of a person, and for that reason was given to God, that is, forfeited to the crown, to be applied to pious uses, and distributed in alms by the high almoner