earnest money

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. Money paid as earnest to bind a bargain or ratify and confirm a sale. Also called hand-money.

Wiktionary

1. n. Money paid as a deposit to show intent to buy or to reserve an item to be purchased; especially, money accompanying an offer to buy real estate.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. (Law) money paid as earnest, to bind a bargain or to ratify and prove a sale.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. money given by a buyer to a seller to bind a contract