Fwd: "Hand of Glory, n." - Word of the Day from the OED

[Dave Monroe]

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Subject: "Hand of Glory, n." - Word of the Day from the OED
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Your word for today is: Hand of Glory, n.

Hand of Glory, n.
[‘ Originally: a charm made from or consisting of the root of a
mandrake (see the etymology) (now rare). Later: a charm or talisman
made from the dried and pickled hand of an executed criminal, used
esp. (with a specially prepared candle placed within it) to render the
occupants of a house motionless during a burglary.’]
Pronunciation: Brit. /ˌhand ə(v) ˈɡlɔːri/,  U.S. /ˌhænd ə(v) ˈɡlɔri/
Inflections:  Plural  hands of glory.
Etymology: <  hand n. + of prep. + glory n., after French main de
gloire (c1436 in Middle French as maindegloire), alteration of
mandeglore, mandegloire (see mandglorye n.) by folk-etymological
association with main hand (see main n.3), de de prep., and gloire
glory n.
 Now chiefly hist.
  Originally: a charm made from or consisting of the root of a
mandrake (see the etymology) (now rare). Later: a charm or talisman
made from the dried and pickled hand of an executed criminal, used
esp. (with a specially prepared candle placed within it) to render the
occupants of a house motionless during a burglary.
Various stories and legends exist concerning the preparation and use
of the Hand of Glory. A detailed description followed by many later
texts is given by Francis Grose in Provinc. Gloss. (1787) 73-5. See
also Scott Antiquary (1816) II. ii. 46-7.
[1687  tr. P. Jurieu Accomplishm. Script. Prophecies xix. 191 He
assists at the right hand of God, because that is the hand of glory,
and glory is for him.]
1707  tr. P. Le Lorrain de Vallemont Curiosities in Husbandry &
Gardening 284 Mountebanks..make of it [sc. mandrake] what we call a
Hand of Glory..They..make believe, that by using some little
Ceremonies, the Silver they lay near it, will increase to double the
Sum every Morning.
1787  F. Grose Provinc. Gloss. Superstitions 74 The use of the Hand of
Glory was to stupify those to whom it was presented, and to render
them motionless.
1816  Scott Antiquary II. ii. 46 De hand of glory..which de monksh
used to conceal their treasures when they were triven from their
cloisters.
1858  J. Timbs Pop. Errors(new ed.) 140 The Hand of Glory..was
supposed to be a sure protection to robbers when committing their
crimes.
1900  F. T. Elworthy Horns of Honour iii. 181 There are many stories
told..in which it appeared that nothing but milk could extinguish the
flame of the ‘hand of glory’.
1917 Bull. John Rylands Libr. Jan. 372 We have the belief that the
‘hand-of-glory’ can be dug up under a gibbet, both in England and
France.
1979  B. Walker Body Magic 101 The ‘hand of glory’, the pickled hand
of an executed criminal the fingers of which were used as candles, was
believed to confer invisibility.
2002  N. Drury Dict. Esoteric 132/2 The Hand of Glory was supposed to
have the magical power to freeze people in their footsteps.

http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/83901

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