misfortune—'Ein Mädchen dass ein Hufeisen verloren hat.' The origin of this strange application of the word is unknown; but the mishap may have been compared to a horse stumbling and losing its shoe.[1]
In Germany horse-shoes are stuck up in all the 'Schmiedeherbergen,' or 'Gasthausern' (smiths' public-houses), and are called the 'arms of the guild' (Zunftgilde).
Holiday, in his comedy of the 'Marriage of the Arts,' among other good wishes introduced, gives one to theeffect ' that the horse-shoe may never be pulled from your threshold.'
To nail a horse-shoe, which has been cast on the road, over the door of any house, barn, or stable, is an effectual means of preventing the entrance of witches in Cornwall and the West of England to this day.[2] I have recently met with instances of this custom in Kent.
Butler,[3] in his unrivalled 'Hudibras,' says of his conjurer that he could
'Chase evil spirits away by dint
Of cickle, horseshoe, hollow flint.'
Misson[4] mentions the popularity of this custom in England, and its being intended as a defence from witches: 'Ayant souvent remarque un fer de cheval cloué au seuils des portes (chez les gens de petite étoffe), j'ai demandé a plusieurs ce que cela vouloit dire? On m'a répondu diverses choses differentes, mais la plus générale réponse a été, que ces fers se mettoient pour empêcher les sorciers
