philopena

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“
"I owe him a philopena, and that would have been a splendid way to pay it."

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Definitions (4)

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  1. A custom or game of reputed German origin: two persons share a nut containing two kernels, and one of them incurs the obligation of giving something as forfeit to the other, either by being first addressed by the latter with the word philopena at their next meeting, or by receiving something from the other's hand, or by answering a question with yes or no, or by some other similar test as agreed upon.
  2. The salutation in the game or custom thus described.
  3. The kernel of the nut used in the game.

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Examples (5)

  • I can't help it if the boys send me philopena presents, as they do to the other girls. " —  An Old-Fashioned Girl
  • "I owe him a philopena, and that would have been a splendid way to pay it." —  Tabitha at Ivy Hall
  • The subsequent Christmas dinner was a festival, and the dessert was prolonged with cracking nuts, making "philopena" bargains, opening sugar kisses and exchanging "verses." —  Her Mother's Secret
  • They'd been lookin 'for the same old elephant with two men inside, the good old chestnut that they'd been tryin' to laugh over for years, and when this philopena was sprung on 'em they were as tickled as a baby with a jack-in-the-box. —  Shorty McCabe
  • 17. philopena —  A Spelling-Book for Advanced Classes
 

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Etymologies (1)

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  1. A rural or provincial word of undetermined origin and unsettled spelling, being variously written philopena, philipena, phillipena, filopena, also philopene, phillipine, filipeen, fillipeen, etc., the spelling philopena simulating a Greek origin, as if ‘a friendly forfeit,’ from Greek φιλ/ος, loving, friendly, + ποινή, a penalty (see pain, pine). The correct form appears to be Philippine (= French Philippine, Dutch filippine, Swedish filipin, Danish filipine), from German Philippine, feminine of Philipp, Philip, these names being used by the man and woman respectively in greeting the other party to the compact. The use of the name Philippine is referred by some to the tradition that St. Philip's two daughters were buried (at Hierapolis) in one sepulcher. The word is commonly said to be a corruption of German vielliebchen, ‘sweetheart’ (used in address), literally ‘very darling,’ from viel, much, very, + liebchen (= Middle Dutch liefken), sweetheart, darling: see feel and liefkin.
 

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