Ouija en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈwiːd͡ʒi/
- /ˈwiːd͡ʒə/
- (US) audio
Etymology
The popular belief that the word came from French oui (“yes”) + German ja (“yes”) is a misconception. The name is taken from a word spelled out on the board when it was asked to name itself by Helen Peters, sister-in-law of Kennard Company investor Elijah Bond. It is noted in personal letters that Ouija was the name of a woman in a painting above her head at the time, who it is speculated may have in fact been Ouida.
Meanings
- (countable) A board, having letters of the alphabet and the words yes and no; used with a planchette during a seance to "communicate" with spirits.
-
(uncountable) The use of such a board to attempt to communicate with spirits.
Soon after the departure of my brother to the better land, our spirit-band informed us very plainly through "Ouija," that it was our duty to remove to Boston in order that our children might have better educational facilities, and be admitted to the "musical swim" of the "Hub of the Universe."
1903, James Henry Foss, The Gentleman from Everywhere:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ouijas | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| ouija | alternative | lexicographic |
Relateds
Synonyms
spirit board · Ouija board · talking board
Translations (43)
lv vīdža (board) · fi ouija (board) · de Seelenschreiber (board) · mt Ouija (board) · eo literumita tabulo (board) · sv anden i glaset (board) · pl ouija (board) · it ouija (board) · ja ウィジャボード (board) · de Ouija (board) · de Ouija-Brett n Hexenbrett (board) · tr cadı tahtası (board) · fr Ouija (board) · pt tabuleiro ouija (board) · uk віджа (board) · ca ouija (board) · ar وْيْجَا (board) · cy bwrdd ouija (board) · el πίνακας πνευμάτων (board) · eu ouija (board) · es ouija (board) · da ånden i glasset (board) · es güija (board) · uk віджі (board) · da ouija (board) · de Alphabettafel (board) · el πίνακας Ouija (board) · it tavola ouija (board) · et ouija laud (board) · fi spiritismi (use of board) · ru уиджа (board) · mt bord Ouija (board) · da ouija-bræt (board) · tr ouija (board) · sv ouija-bräda (board) · lt vidža lentelė (board) · pt ouija (board) · fi Ouija-lauta (board) · nl ouijabord (board) · th ผีถ้วยแก้ว (board) · et ouija tahvel (board) · is andaglas (board) · ro ouija (board)