ouija
ouija Lexical Profile
ouija Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A flat board marked with the letters of the alphabet, the numbers 0 to 9, and the words "yes," "no," and "goodbye," used with a movable heart-shaped pointer (planchette) to spell out supposed telepathic or spiritualistic messages during a séance.
"The teenagers gathered in the dimly lit attic and placed their fingertips lightly on the ouija to see if it would spell out a message."
Word Nuance & Usage
Originally a registered trademark, the word is often capitalized as "Ouija" and most commonly used attributively in the compound "Ouija board."
• Rhymes for ouija
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in 1890 by American businessman Charles Kennard and Medium Helen Peters; although popularly believed to combine the French "oui" and German "ja" (both meaning "yes"), Peters maintained the name was revealed directly by the board itself during a séance.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.