spatulaˈmancy
[ad. med. or mod.L. spatulamancia, f. spatula shoulder-blade.]
Divination by means of the shoulder-blade of an animal. (Cf. spade-bone and speal-bone.)
In quot. 1652 there is app. some error or omission, as the explanation would more properly apply to *spatilomancy, f. Gr. σπατίλη excrement, parings of leather.
| 1652 Gaule Magastrom. xix. 166 Spatalamancy, [divining] by skins, bones, excrement. 1720 De Foe D. Campbell (1841) 241 If it be by consulting the shoulder-bones of any beast, it goes by the name of spatulamancy. 1887 Ribton-Turner Vagrants & Vagrancy 78 Spatulamancy.., by reading..the blade bone of a shoulder of mutton well scraped. |