philopena

POS

Noun

HYPHEN

phil=o=pe=na

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CIDE DICTIONARY

philopena, n. [Probably a corruption fr. G. vielliebchen, LG. vielliebken, or D. veelliebken, a philopena, literally, much loved; but influenced by Gr. a friend, and L. poena penalty, from an idea that the gift was a penalty of friendship or love.].

A present or gift which is made as a forfeit in a social game that is played in various ways; also, the game itself. [1913 Webster]

" One of the ways may be stated as follows: A person finding a nut with two kernels eats one, and gives the other to a person of the opposite sex, and then whichever says philopena first at the next meeting wins the present. The name is also applied to the kernels eaten." [1913 Webster]