A penalty, forfeit, or fine demanded in advance or at the front of a transaction; something lost or given up upfront.
Blend of 'fore-' (before) and 'fit' (related to 'fate' or 'what is fitting/due). Old English legal jargon for advance payments or penalties required before an agreement took effect.
In old marketplaces, a 'forefit' was like a non-refundable deposit—medieval merchants used it to ensure serious buyers and protect themselves, making it an ancestor of the modern security deposit or earnest money.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.