† wood-spelln.1
Obsolete.
A spell or charm against danger in passing through a wood or forest.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > the occult > sorcery, witchcraft, or magic > enchantment or casting spells > [noun] > charm or amulet > against specific harm or danger
St. Agatha's letters1563
wood-spell1579
constellated images1652
dreamcatcher1976
1579 E. K. in E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. Mar. 54 Gloss. Spell is a kinde of verse or charme, that in elder tymes they vsed often to say ouer euery thing, that they would haue preserued, as the Nightspel for theeues, and the woodspell.
1612 J. Mason Anat. Sorcerie 63 All charmes and inchantments, by reason that they are also tyed to a certaine forme, order or number of words, are also termed (Spelles) as (night-spells) and (wood-spells) and such like.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1928; most recently modified version published online September 2020).
wood-spelln.2
/ˈwʊdspɛl/, U.S. /ˈwʊdˌspɛl/ U.S.
A spell or turn of work at piling or storing wood for fuel.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > work > times or periods of work > [noun] > spell of work or duty > spell of work of specific kind
yoking1516
wood-spell1864
1864 Webster's Amer. Dict. Eng. Lang. Spell..2. A gratuitious helping forward of another's work; as, a wood-spell. (U.S.)
1869 H. B. Stowe Oldtown Folks xxxvii. 478 It was in the winter of this next year that the minister's ‘wood-spell’ was announced... There was a certain day set apart in the winter,..when every parishioner brought the minister a sled-load of wood.
1878 H. B. Stowe Poganuc People ii. 12 The great wood-pile in the back yard, where, at the yearly ‘wood-spell’, the farmers deposited the fuel needed for the long..winters.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1928; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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