ˈnight-spell
[f. night n. + spell n.]
1. A spell used as a protection against harm by night.
| c 1386 Chaucer Miller's T. 3480 The night-spel seyde he anon rightes, On the foure halves of the hous aboute, And on the threisshfold of the dore withoute. 1579 E. K. Gloss. Spenser's Sheph. Cal. Mar. 54 Spell, is a kinde of verse or charme,..as the Nightspel for theeues. 1608 Topsell Serpents (1658) 663 This is an excellent night-spell, and therefore I was loath to pretermit it. 1619 Fletcher Mons. Thomas iv. vi, Have at you with a night spell then!.. ‘St. George, St. George,..He walks by day, so does he by night’ [etc.]. 1674 Blount Glossogr. (ed. 4), Night-spel, was a Prayer against the Night-mar. |
2. A spell used, or operating, to cause harm or trouble by night.
| 1589 R. Harvey Pl. Perc. (1590) 19 Such a one as speakes of gospels in the day: but vseth I know not what night⁓spels in the darke. 1612 J. Mason Anat. Sorc. 86 Binding some, that they cannot use their naturall powers and faculties, as we see in night-spels. 1827 Gentl. Mag. XCVII. 486 When the next morning's Sun had glistened upon the little stream, and the night-spell had thus been broken, one horse drew away with ease the waggon. |
| attrib. ? c 1600 Distr. Emperor i. i. in Bullen Old Pl. III. 169, I have seene Your conference with witches, night-spell knaves, Connivynge mountebanks. |