Ouija

Meanings

1. A board, having letters of the alphabet and the words yes and no; used with a planchette during a seance to "communicate" with spirits.
2. The use of such a board to attempt to communicate with spirits.

1. Alternative letter-case form of Ouija.

Etymology

The popular belief that the word came from French oui (“yes”) + German ja (“yes”) is a misconception. The name is taken from a word spelled out on the board when it was asked to name itself by Helen Peters, sister-in-law of Kennard Company investor Elijah Bond. It is noted in personal letters that Ouija was the name of a woman in a painting above her head at the time, who it is speculated may have in fact been Ouida.