death penny

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   A coin placed on the eyelid of a deceased person to keep the eye closed.

   • He told me how in the oldest graves "death pennies," once used to close the eyes of the corpse, are found.
   • His hands fumbled, and his eyelids suddenly felt as if someone had weighed them down with death pennies.
2. 2

   Synonym of Charon's obol (“a coin placed in or on the mouth of a deceased person as a…

   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”).

   • You will not see him now, till a pinch of dust has been sprinkled on your brow, and the death-penny put into your mouth. Then, when you have crossed the dark river, he will be waiting for you on the other side.
3. 3

   The memorial plaque, a circular bronze plaque presented to the next of kin of British…

   The memorial plaque, a circular bronze plaque presented to the next of kin of British Empire personnel killed in World War I.

   • I think for most people it's the starting point: it's the grandmother telling you a story about the great-uncle that you never knew, or the photograph on the wall, or the death penny.

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