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Webster 1913 Edition


Balefire

Bale′fireˊ

(bāl′fīr)
,
Noun.
[AS.
bǣlfȳr
the fire of the funeral pile;
bǣl
fire, flame (akin to Icel.
bāl
, OSlav.
bēlŭ
, white, Gr.
φαλόσ
bright, white, Skr.
bhāla
brightness) +
fȳr
, E.
fire
.]
A signal fire; an alarm fire.
Sweet Teviot! on thy silver tide
The glaring
balefires
blaze no more.
Sir W. Scott.

Definition 2024


balefire

balefire

English

Noun

balefire (plural balefires)

  1. an outdoor fire, such as pyre, bonfire, signal fire, asf.
    • 2002, Marilyn F. Daniel, Kitchen Witchery, Weiser, ISBN 9781578631896, 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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