belomancy

English

Alternative forms

• bellomancy
• bolomancy

Etymology

From Ancient Greek βέλος (bélos, “an arrow, dart”) +‎ -mancy.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈbɛl.əʊ.mæn.si/

Noun

belomancy (uncountable)

1. Studying the flight of arrows, an ancient form of divination used by the Greeks and Arabs.

See also

• rhabdomancy

References

"For the king of Babylon will stop at the fork in the road, at the junction of the two roads, to seek an omen: He will cast lots with his arrows..." -- Ezekiel 21:21, Bible

"Of this kinde of Rhabdomancy was that practised by Nabuchadonosor in the Chaldean miscellany, delivered by Ezekiel. A like way of Belomancy or Divination by Arrowes hath been in request with Scythians, Alanes, Germans, with the Africans and Turks of Algiers." -- Pseudodoxia Epidemica, Browne 1646