touchwood

Fungus-softened dry wood

Touchwood is dry, decayed wood that catches fire easily from a spark, used as tinder.

The word appears in the phrase touch wood (British) or knock on wood (American)—a superstitious gesture of tapping wood to ward off bad luck after mentioning good fortune: I've never had an accident, touch wood.

gesture

knock

Strike-produced sound

tapValve controlling liquid flow
rapQuick sharp blow
ritualCeremonial set of actions

habit · custom · reflex · invocation · warding · averting · precaution

superstition

knock

Strike-produced sound

jinxCurse bringing misfortune
omenProphetic indicator
tabooCultural or social prohibition

curse · hex · luck · fortune · fate · charm · blessing · portent · augury · divination

charm

amulet

Worn protective token

talismanMagical protective charm
fetishIrrational devotion to something
totemSpiritual clan symbol

pendant · trinket · keepsake · locket · medallion · rabbit-foot · horseshoe · evil-eye · hamsa · dreamcatcher

protection

warding

Defending against approach

safeguardPrecaution against harm
shieldHandheld defensive armor
avertPrevent or deflect

prevent · deflect · guard · talisman · sanctuary · refuge · blessing

folklore

tradition

Custom passed through generations

loreTraditional knowledge transmitted orally
legendUnverified traditional tale
mythTraditional explanatory tale

folktale · oral-history · customs · heritage · belief · sayings · proverbs · ethnology

touchwood

knock

knock

amulet

warding

tradition

touchwood

Opposites

Categories

Family