cromniomancy

English

Etymology

Ancient Greek kromyon or krommyon, "an onion".

Noun

cromniomancy (uncountable)

1. Divination by onions or onion sprouts.
   • 1660 Robert Burton The Anatomy of Melancholy in Brand Popular Antiquities (1844) iii.

     Burton..speaks of "cromnysmantia," a kind of divination with onions laid on the altar at Christmas Eve, practised by girls, to know when they shall be married, and how many husbands they shall have. This appears also to have been a German custom.

   • 1931 Lock tr. de Givry Picture Museum of Sorcery

     cromniomancy consisted of laying onions on which certain names had been written upon the altar on Christmas Day; when these were planted the one which sprouted first would give the required indication.