hand of glory
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English
Etymology
Perhaps from a confused reference to the mandrake plant, which is mandragore in French, while hand of glory would be main de gloire.
Noun
hand of glory (plural hands of glory)
- (historical) A charm made from the hand of a man executed by hanging, supposed to be able to unlock doors, render other people motionless, etc.
- 1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 114:
- Sorcerers and other practitioners of witchcraft used to make a variety of candlestick called the Hand of Glory, chiefly from the flesh of criminals[.]