Posted by Robert Hill on March 01, 2004 at 21:39:17 from 195.92.168.168 user eclrh.
In Reply to: Re: widdershins? posted by Peter Ceresole on March 01, 2004 at 18:20:08:
I've long been familiar with "widdershins" but had not heard any version of the d-word. It seemed at first not to be in Chambers, but I eventually found (via widdershins and withershins) that it's in there under the spelling "deasil". It seems both words are Scots; widdershins comes ultimately from Germanic languages, and deasil from Gaelic.
In the fifth Harry Potter book there are a few passing references to a wizard petty criminal called Willy Widdershins, who plays jokes on the muggles by tampering with lavatories to make them regurgitate their contents. His surname alludes to the meaning of "widdershins" as "contrary to the normal or proper direction". As for his first name ... well, let's just say that the film "Free Willy" caused some quiet mirth in Britain.