Kantrip Start Page

This domain name comes from the phonetic spelling of the word 'cantrip'. Here's what the Oxford English Dictionary has to say about it:

Definition

A spell or charm of necromancy or witchcraft; a witch's trick or mischievous device. Also jocosely, any playfully mischievous trick; any whimsically mad, eccentric, or extravagant piece of conduct; in phr. to play one a cantrip.

Use

1719	RAMSAY	Ep. Hamilton III. vi	Nor cantrapes cast to ken your fate
1725	?	Gent. Sheph. II. ii	A witch, that for sma' price, Can cast her cantraips, and give me advice
1790	BURNS	Tam O'Shanter	By some devilish cantrip slight Each in its cauld hand held a light
1816	SCOTT	Antiq. xliv. 298	'I think some Scottish deevil put it into my head to play him yon other cantrip.'
1872	?	Daily News 17 Aug	Our own young lady was permitted no such cantrips
1884	TENNYSON	Becket 171	Save from some hateful cantrips of thine own

Etymology

(kæntrp) Also -raip, -rap. A mod.Sc. word, of unknown origin: the orig. phrase appears to have been 'to cast cantrips', like to cast figures, horoscopes, nativities, lots, spells: perh. a perversion of some term of astrology.

(Jamieson suggested cant to turn over + raip rope; Mahn Icel. gan frenzy, frantic gestures (which he renders 'witchcraft') + trappa a step.)

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