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Drawing the Nail

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i.e. absolving oneself of a vow. In Cheshire, two or more persons would agree to do something, or to abstain from something, say drinking beer; and they would go into a wood, and register their vow by driving a nail into a tree, swearing to keep their vow as long as that nail remained in the tree. If they repented of their vow, some or all of the party went and drew out the nail, whereupon the vow was cancelled.

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Draught of Thor (The)
Draupnir
Draw
Draw it Mild (To)
Draw the Long Bow (To)
Drawback
Drawcansir
Drawing-room
Drawing the Cork
Drawing the King’s (or Queen’s) Picture
Drawing the Nail
Drawlatches
Drawn
Drawn Battle
Dreadnought
Dream Authorship
Dreamer
Dreng
Dress your Jacket (or hide)
Dresser
Drink