Thom Noblitt y Gonzalez Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 A interesting word I randomly found online: Top 10 Words with Bizarre Meanings #3: Axinomancy Definition: divination by means of the movements of an ax placed on a post About the Word: An ancient means of determining guilt, axinomancy involved balancing an ax on a post, and reading a list of names aloud. If the ax moved at a particular name, that person was deemed guilty. In another (equally strange) version, a marble was placed on a red–hot ax; the motion of the marble signaled guilt. and now I wonder about what kind of axe would be best for the task. I haven't known to many that could balance a marble on them. Original Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/top-ten-lists/top-10-words-with-bizarre-meanings/axinomancy.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 If you can't balance a marble on your axe you're guilty and will have to sweep dust off the floor of the shop! (As we have a dirt floor this is *most* amusing!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlissStreet Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 I wonder how you get the list of names. Is it like a police lineup, where all but the suspects is a known not guilty? And the test just confirms the suspiction? Or do you have a problem, make a list of everybody even remotely associated and let the axe fall where it may? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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