balefire

English

Etymology

From Middle English bale-fyre, from Old English bǣlfȳr (“balefire, funeral or sacrificial fire”); equivalent to bale (Etymology 2) +‎ fire.

Noun

balefire (plural balefires)

  1. An outdoor fire used in witches' rituals.
    • 2002, Marilyn F. Daniel, Kitchen Witchery‎, Weiser, →ISBN, page 236:
      Rites done on a lakeshore or seashore can be illuminated with balefires of dried driftwood collected prior to the rite.

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