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Webster 1913 Edition

Philopena

Philˊo-pe′na

,
Noun.
[Probably a corruption fr. G.
vielliebchen
, LG.
vielliebken
, or D.
veelliebken
, a philopena, literally, much loved; but influenced by Gr.
φίλοσ
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.
[Written also
fillipeen
and
phillippine
.]
☞ 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.

Definition 2024

philopena

philopena

English

Alternative forms

-paene, -pena, -poena, by mistaken association with Latin forms.

Noun

philopena ‎(plural philopenas)

  1. A game in which a person, on finding a double-kernelled almond or nut, may offer the second kernel to another person and demand a playful forfeit from that person to be paid on their next meeting. The forfeit may simply be to exchange the greeting "Good-day, Philopena" or it may be more elaborate. Philopenas were often played as a form of flirtation.
  2. The occasion on which a philopena is forfeited; the forfeit paid.
  3. A nut or almond with a double kernel, as used to set a philopena.

Quotations

  • For usage examples of this term, see Citations:philopena.

Translations

Derived terms

  • philopenac

References

  • The Oxford English Dictionary
  • Cassell Concise Dictionary

Etymology

The origin of philopena is unclear. Despite its appearance, it is not formed from classical roots. The traditional game seems to have originated in Germany, and to have included a formulatic greeting, Gutenmorgen Vielliebchen ("Good morning, sweetheart"), with Vielliebchen being accepted into French as a proper name, and the game's tag becoming "Bonjour Philipine".

A different account suggests that the word began as the French Valentin(e), with the nut exchanged considered as a St. Valentine's Day gift; Valentine became Philipine and was accepted in this form into Mosel Franconian dialects of German (Luxemburger Wörterbuch (1950) I.370, Philippchen). However, the OED disputes this, arguing that "Valentine" in French may mean "sweetheart", but does not mean "gift" or "lover's gift", and wondering in addition what pressure would confuse the familiar French given names Valentin(e) and Philip(e)(pine).

The OED also lists forms in Dutch (filippien), Danish (filippine), and Swedish (filipin) denoting either the game or an almond or nut with a double kernel. These citations date from the mid-nineteenth century to the early twentieth century, and the meaning referring to the game is usually attested to earliest.

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