divining rod

noun

Rod used for dowsing, a technique of divination used to locate subterranean sources of water, metal, other mineral resources or even various other things through magic, or according to many believers a natural phenomenon.

Similar
dowsing roddowservirguladoodlebugwaterfinderwater finder
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Meanings

noundivining rod (plural divining rods)

plural divining rods

  1. Rod used for dowsing, a technique of divination used to locate subterranean sources of water, metal, other mineral resources or even various other things through magic, or according to many believers a natural phenomenon.

    Dan produced his divining rod - a piece of forked willow tree - and taking a firm grip of it with both hands, went off ‘merry-widowing’ round Skinnerlouse’s yard.

    1911, ‘Steel Rudd’, The Book of Dan, Brisbane: University of Queensland Press, published 1970, page 8

    Synonyms: dowsing rod, dowser, virgula, doodlebug

Synonyms & antonyms

nounRod used for dowsing, a technique of divination used to locate subterranean sources of water, metal, other mineral resources or even various other things through magic, or according to many believers a natural phenomenon.

Similar
dowsing roddowservirguladoodlebug

More synonyms by meaning

nounforked stick that is said to dip down to indicate underground water or oil

Similar
dowserdowsing rodwaterfinderwater finder
Broader
stick
Also see
dowserdowsing rodwaterfinder

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Czech virgule
  • virgulerod used for dowsing
Danish ønskekvist
  • ønskekvistrod used for dowsing
Dutch wichelroede, wichelstok
  • wichelroederod used for dowsing
  • wichelstokrod used for dowsing
Esperanto rabdo
  • rabdorod used for dowsing
Finnish taikavarpu
  • taikavarpurod used for dowsing
French baguette de coudrier, baguette de sourcier
  • baguette de coudrierrod used for dowsing
  • baguette de sourcierrod used for dowsing
  • baguette divinatoirerod used for dowsing
German Wünschelrute
  • Wünschelruterod used for dowsing
Greek ράβδος υδροσκόπου
  • ράβδος υδροσκόπου (rávdos ydroskópou)rod used for dowsing
Hungarian varázsvessző
  • varázsvesszőrod used for dowsing
Latin virgula divina, virgula divinatoria
  • virgula divinarod used for dowsing
  • virgula divinatoriarod used for dowsing
Polish różdżka
  • różdżkarod used for dowsing
Swedish slagruta
  • slagrutarod used for dowsing
Cite this entry
APA

divining rod. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/divining%20rod

MLA

“divining rod.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/divining%20rod. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “divining rod,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/divining%20rod.

Source: divining rod on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.