trophy

n.; pl. Trophies [ F. trophée (cf. It. & Sp. trofeo), L. tropaeum, trophaeum, Gr. &unr_;, strictly, a monument of the enemy's defeat, fr.&unr_; a turn, especially, a turning about of the enemy, a putting to flight or routing him, fr. &unr_; to turn. See Trope. ] 1. (Gr. & Rom. Antiq.) A sign or memorial of a victory raised on the field of battle, or, in case of a naval victory, on the nearest land. Sometimes trophies were erected in the chief city of the conquered people. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ A trophy consisted originally of some of the armor, weapons, etc., of the defeated enemy fixed to the trunk of a tree or to a post erected on an elevated site, with an inscription, and a dedication to a divinity. The Romans often erected their trophies in the Capitol. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The representation of such a memorial, as on a medal; esp. (Arch.), an ornament representing a group of arms and military weapons, offensive and defensive. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Anything taken from an enemy and preserved as a memorial of victory, as arms, flags, standards, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Around the posts hung helmets, darts, and spears,
And captive chariots, axes, shields, and bars,
And broken beaks of ships, the trophies of their wars. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Any evidence or memorial of victory or conquest; as, every redeemed soul is a trophy of grace. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ 1913 Webster ]

Trophy money, a duty paid formerly in England, annually, by housekeepers, toward providing harness, drums, colors, and the like, for the militia. [ 1913 Webster ]