Corsned

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Corsned \Cors"ned\ (k[^o]rs"n[e^]d), n. [AS. corsn[=ae]d.] (AS.
     Laws)
     The morsel of execration; a species of ordeal consisting in
     the eating of a piece of bread consecrated by imprecation. If
     the suspected person ate it freely, he was pronounced
     innocent; but if it stuck in his throat, it was considered as


     a proof of his guilt. --Burril.
     [1913 Webster] cortege

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  CORSNED, ancient Eng. law. This was a piece of accursed bread, which a 
  person accused of a crime swallowed to test his innocence. It was supposed 
  that, if he was guilty, it would choke him.