peter's pence

Definition of Peter's Pence in English :

1. hearth money, peter's pence

an annual contribution made by Roman Catholics to support the papal see

WordNet Lexical Database for English. Princeton University. 2010.

Peter's Pence

noun

1.

an annual tax, originally of one penny, formerly levied for the maintenance of the Papal See: abolished by Henry VIII in 1534

2.

a voluntary contribution made by Roman Catholics in many countries for the same purpose

1.

an annual tax, orig. of one penny, paid to the papal see by certain English property owners before the Reformation

2.

an annual voluntary donation made by Catholics everywhere to the papal see

n.
Roman Catholic Church

1. A tax of one penny per household paid in medieval England to the Papal See.

2. An annual voluntary contribution made by Roman Catholics toward the expenses of the Holy See. Also called hearth money.