- water ordeal
- See trial by water.
Ballentine's law dictionary. Anderson, W.S.. 1998.
water ordeal
Look at other dictionaries:
Water ordeal — Wa ter or de*al Same as {Ordeal by water}. See the Note under {Ordeal}, n., 1. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
water ordeal — noun : an ordeal (as of plunging a bare arm into boiling water) in which water is the testing agent and in which innocence or guilt is held to be proved (as by the condition of the arm) : an ordeal of casting an accused person bound hand and foot … Useful english dictionary
water-ordeal — … Useful english dictionary
cold-water ordeal — A trial by ordeal in which the defendant was thrown into cold water; if he sank, he was deemed innocent; if he floated, he was found guilty … Ballentine's law dictionary
Hot Water Ordeal — The victim fasted for three days, then a ring or piece of metal, blessed by a priest, was thrown into a pot of boiling water. The victim reached into the pot and pulled out the object. The worse the crime the deeper the boiling water. The arm… … The writer's dictionary of science fiction, fantasy, horror and mythology
cold water ordeal — The trial which was anciently used for the common sort of people, who, having a cord tied about them under their arms, were cast into a river; if they sank to the bottom until they were drawn up, which was in a very short time, then were they… … Black's law dictionary
hot-water ordeal — In old English law, this was a test, in cases of accusation, by hot water; the party accused and suspected being appointed by the judge to put his arms up to the elbows in seething hot water, which, after sundry prayers and invocations, he did,… … Black's law dictionary
cold water ordeal — The trial which was anciently used for the common sort of people, who, having a cord tied about them under their arms, were cast into a river; if they sank to the bottom until they were drawn up, which was in a very short time, then were they… … Black's law dictionary
hot-water ordeal — In old English law, this was a test, in cases of accusation, by hot water; the party accused and suspected being appointed by the judge to put his arms up to the elbows in seething hot water, which, after sundry prayers and invocations, he did,… … Black's law dictionary
hot-water ordeal — An ancient form of trial for crime in which the defendant s arms were plunged into scalding hot water … Ballentine's law dictionary
