Definition

Noun (uncountable): A practice or phenomenon, especially associated with spiritualism, in which supposed spirits communicate by producing rapping sounds (typically on tables or walls) during séances.

Usage Examples

• (The supposed communication using rapping sounds.)
• (The phenomenon as a form of supernatural communication.)

Advanced Usage

• "to engage in spirit-rapping": to participate in or practice the act of communicating with spirits via rapping sounds.
  • The group gathered weekly to engage in spirit-rapping, hoping to contact deceased relatives. (To take part in the séance practice.)

Variants and Related Words

• Spirit-rapper (n): a person who claims to produce or facilitate spirit-rapping sounds.
  • The spirit-rapper was later exposed as a fraud. (A practitioner of the phenomenon.)

Synonyms

• Table-rapping: a synonym for the same practice, often specifically associated with rapping on tables.
  • The séance involved table-rapping as the primary method of communication. (A similar term for the phenomenon.)

Related Idioms

• Rap on the table: a literal action associated with spirit-rapping, but not an idiom; used in séance contexts.
  • The spirit was asked to rap on the table once for "yes" and twice for "no". (The physical action used in the practice.)