death penny
A coin placed on the eyelid of a deceased person to keep the eye closedA coin placed on the eyelid of a deceased person to keep the eye closed.
Meaning
3 senses(historical, usually plural)A coin placed on the eyelid of a deceased person to keep the eye closed.
(Greek, Roman)Synonym of Charon's obol (“a coin placed in or on the mouth of a deceased person as a bribe or payment for Charon, the ferryman of Hades”).
(UK, World War I, informal)The memorial plaque, a circular bronze plaque presented to the next of kin of British Empire personnel killed in World War I.
Translations
1 languagesOrigin
From death + penny. Noun sense 3 (“memorial plaque”) refers to its superficial resemblanceFrom death + penny. Noun sense 3 (“memorial plaque”) refers to its superficial resemblance to the one-penny coin (which was much smaller) in circulation in the United Kingdom at the time.
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Forms
plural: death pennies| Singular | death penny |
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| Plural | death pennies |
regular