Ordeal

Ordeal [fr. ordal, Sax., fr. or, great, and dele, judgment], an ancient manner of trial in criminal cases practised amongst our Saxon ancestors, who affected to believe that God would actively inter-pose to establish an earthly right. There were four sorts: (1) campfight, duellum, or combat; (2) fire ordeal; (3) ot water ordeal; (4) cold water ordeal. See Verstegan's Restitution of Decayed Intelligence, 64; Turner's Ang.-Sax., vol. ii. 532; 2 Hallam's Mid. Ages, 466.