Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun See tanghin.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • In Madagascar, one way of determining guilt is to poison you, and see if you spew — I can taste that vile tanguin yet.

    Flashman and the Dragon Fraser, George MacDonald, 1925- 1985

  • In Madagascar, one way of determining guilt is to poison you, and see if you spew - I can taste that vile tanguin yet.

    Flashman And The Dragon Fraser, George MacDonald, 1925- 1985

  • In Madagascar, one way of determining guilt is to poison you, and see if you spew - I can taste that vile tanguin yet.

    Flashman and the Dragon Fraser, George MacDonald, 1925- 1985

  • The punitive expedition was in retaliation for Ranavalona's ill-treatment of Europeans - she had recently decreed that those trading with the island were liable to Malagassy law (slavery for debt, forced labour, trial by tanguin, etc.), there had been fatal incidents between British ships and Malagassy troops, and a British shipmaster of American origin, Jacob Heppick, had been enslaved after his barque, the Marie Laure, was shipwrecked.

    Flashman's Lady Fraser, George MacDonald, 1925- 1977

  • There was a filthy mess on the floor near him - and the word shot into my mind: tanguin.

    Flashman's Lady Fraser, George MacDonald, 1925- 1977

  • This is the interesting part of the tanguin ordeal, you see: will the victim vomit properly?

    Flashman's Lady Fraser, George MacDonald, 1925- 1977

  • His account varies from other descriptions only on minor points - it was customary, when time was available, to starve the patient for 24 hours before the scraped stone of the tanguin fruit was administered, and some historians say that in order to pass the test the pieces of chicken skin had to be regurgitated in a particular direction.

    Flashman's Lady Fraser, George MacDonald, 1925- 1977

  • I heard my own teeth chattering, and then I was grovelling and pleading, protesting my loyalty, swearing she was the darlingest, loveliest queen who ever was - only the blind certainty that confession meant sure and unspeakable death stopped me from whimpering out the whole plot; for at least the tanguin gave me a slender chance, and I suppose I knew it.

    Flashman's Lady Fraser, George MacDonald, 1925- 1977

  • Queen suspicioning Andriama, giving tanguin, he puking no good, not like you.

    Flashman's Lady Fraser, George MacDonald, 1925- 1977

  • My jaw was wrenched cruelly open; bestial fingers were holding it, and I choked as my mouth filled with the filthy odour of the tanguin.

    Flashman's Lady Fraser, George MacDonald, 1925- 1977

Comments

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  • This reminds me of the Medieval dunking ordeal to find out if a woman is a witch. If she drowns and dies, she's innocent. In this case, vomiting poison determines your innocence... but it could STILL kill you in the process. See tanghin.


    "In Madagascar, one way of determining guilt is to poison you, and see if you spew."

    August 27, 2019

  • Trial By Vomit shall be the name of my new album. Out now on Medieval Records.

    August 27, 2019