onychomancy

Examples

• Fortune telling by means of the finger-nails, onychomancy, as it was called, was not uncommon in ancient times, says Medical Classics. The practice was to rub the nails with oil and soot or wax, and to hold up the nails, thus prepared, against the sun, and upon the transparent horny substance were supposed to appear figures or characters which gave the answer required.

  'Characteristics Told By Finger Nails,' The New York Times, August 25, 1889

• The most learned and distinguished of onychomancists was Jerome Cardan, who was considered as great an oracle in his day as Mr. Heron-Allen is at present, though Cardan never made such practical use of his reputation as the wide-awake Englishman has done.

  'Finger-Nail Secrets,' The Lawrence Weekly Journal, February 10, 1887

• We do not intend setting up as professors of onychomancy; the mere thought of it gives us a tired feeling. We have a nailing scheme in view, hover, and it amounts to this: We want to nail your attention while we tell you something about Costumes.

  'A Nailing Scheme,' Evening Post, April 1901