water diviningn.
/ˈwɔːtə dᵻˌvʌɪnɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈwɔdər dəˌvaɪnɪŋ/, /ˈwɑdər dəˌvaɪnɪŋ/ The action or practice of searching for underground sources of water using a divining rod or similar technique.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > endeavour > searching or seeking > [noun] > types of search or searching > searching for subterraneous water or minerals
rhabdomancy1646
water witching1850
witching1864
water divining1867
1867 Human Nature Nov. 464 (heading) Water divining.
1889 Spectator 5 Oct. 436/1 Whilst staying at a house in Gloucestershire in the early part of this year, I was present at some water-divining experiments.
1935 Boys' Life Nov. 11/1 We had tried various devices designed to locate hidden gold, most of them working on the same principle as that employed in water divining.
1997 B. Rowlands Which? Guide Complementary Med. 210 Practitioners of radiesthesia apply techniques similar to those used in dowsing or water-divining.
2013 W. H. Williamson in N. Howden & J. Mather Hist. Hydrogeol. 17 At that time..belief in water divining was rife in rural areas.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2015; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1867