A mortgage is indeed literally a “death pledge”. It’s thought that the “death” involved in the mortgage’s ominous “death pledge” isn’t that of the debtor (yeah ok) but rather either the debt itself, or the estate against which the debt is secured.

That is to say, by entering into a mortgage, you “pledge” to continue paying your debt until it is entirely cleared (and thereby figuratively “killed”), otherwise your ownership of your estate “dies” if you can’t pay up.

On a side note, the “gage” of mortgage was also once the name of a glove, or similar item, thrown contemptuously to the ground at the start of a conflict or duel to announce someone’s intention to fight. That’s also why you engage someone in battle. Might be worth taking one with you next time you have an appointment at the bank.

Likes(7)Dislikes(0)