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† alfet
[Anglicized form of med.L. alfetum, latinized form of OE. ál-fæt, f. ál burning + fæt vat, vessel (cf. ál-ᵹeweorc tinder), in Laws of æthelstán.]
The cauldron used in the ordeal of scalding water. (Not Eng. since 1100; mod. form would be ole-vat.)
a1000Anct. Laws I. 226 Sí þæt álfæt ísen oþþen ǽren, léaden oþþe lǽmen. [1678Du Cange, Alfetum.] 1678Phillips, Alfet, a kind of Ordeal anciently used, which was by a great Caldron of scalding water, into which the accused person was to put his arm up to the elbow, and if hurt he was held guilty, if not acquitted. [In Bailey, Ash, Tomlins, etc., but only from Du Cange.] |