invultuation

English

Etymology

From Latin invultare (“to stab the face of”), from vultus (“face”).

Noun

invultuation (uncountable)

1. A form of witchcraft: piercing a wax or clay image of a person in order to harm them.
   • 1973, L. Sprague de Camp, The Rug and the Bull:

     "What, then?" asked the porter. "Hire a witch-wife to burke him by invultuation, with a waxen image and pins?"