Water ordeal
Defined in 3 dictionaries — Ballentine's (1916), Black's (1910), Stimson (1881)
Ballentine's Law Dictionary
James A. Ballentine · 1916
Whereby if the suspect sank in a pool of water into which he was cast, he was acquitted, but if he floated without swimming, he was deemed guilty. See, also, Hot-water ordeal.
Black's Law Dictionary
Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
In Saxon and old English law. The ordeal or trial by water. The hot-water ordeal was performed by plunging the bare arm up to the elbow in boiling water, and escaping unhurt thereby. 4 Bl. Comm. 343. The cold-water ordeal was performed by casting the person suspected into a river or pond of cold water, when, if he floated therein, without any action of swimming it was deemed an evidence of his guilt: but, if he sunk, he was acquitted. Id.
Defined under Water in Black's Law Dictionary.
Glossary of Technical Terms, Phrases, and Maxims of the Common Law
Frederic Jesup Stimson · 1881
v. Ordeal.