1) Etymologically a thing to be given to God.
In English law, if a chattel was shown to have caused the death of a reasonable creature, the owner forfeited its value to the Crown, and the money was put to pious uses, that is distributed in alms: 1336-8 Catalla que dicuntur Deodanda: a list of deodands in that period included a cart drawn by two horses, loaded with faggots, which caused the death of Robert Hert of Osgodby. At an early period the right to deodands was often granted to lords of manors, or to liberties: 1577 Thomas Robinson for a debt due for a parcel of a dyadante ... 8s 2d, Beverley
1653 the Mannor of Ingleton ... All wayfes, Estrayes, deodandes, Goodes & Chattells of Fellons. Deodands were abolished in 1846.