philopena

noun phil·o·pe·na

variants: or philippina \ˌfiləˈpēnə\ or philippine \-ēn\

Definition of philopena

plural -s

1 : a game in which a man and woman who have shared the twin kernels of a nut each try to claim a gift from the other as a forfeit at their next meeting by fulfilling certain conditions (as by being the first to exclaim “philopena”) — called also fillipeen

2 a : a nut with two kernels

b : a gift given as a forfeit

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Origin and Etymology of philopena

modification (influenced by Greek philos loving and Latin poena penalty) of German vielliebchen, literally, much loved; perhaps from the idea that the gift was a penalty of friendship or love