Meaning of witch ball | Babel Free

Definitions

A hollow sphere of plain or stained glass hung in windows in 18th-century England to ward off evil spirits, witches' spells or ill fortune.

Examples

“To prevent the possibility of over-looking, it was only necessary to direct the glance elsewhere. This intention lay behind the coloured glass "witch-balls" hung in cottage windows; the garlands of flowers or bright berried branches nailed above the stable and cowshed doors or placed around the necks of cattle. [...] All were in the nature of red herrings to attract this important first glance.”

CEFR level