Meaning of alfet | Babel Free

Definitions

A cauldron of boiling water into which an accused person plunged his forearm, used as a form of trial in Medieval England.

historical

Examples

“ALFET, antiently ſignified the Cauldron in which boiling Water was put⟳, for the Accuſed to plunge his Hand in up to the Elbow, by way of Trial of Purgation.”

“Miss⟳ Twig, head bowed at the far end⟳ of the table, continued to eat⟳ placidly, but Jacko fixed her with a hard look⟳. "His rooms, huh? Eh, Twigs," he said, "'tis the alfet for a ewbrice." ¶ Dimple gurgled, swallowed, and said, "And what, Jacko boy, might an alfet be?" ¶ Jacko grinned. "Yer tub a boilin' water. For duckin' class offenders."”

CEFR level