Ordeal by Water Law and Legal Definition
Ordeal refers to a trial in which an accused was subjected to a dangerous or painful physical test to determine his/her innocence or guilt. Ordeal by water is an ordeal by which the guilt or innocence depends upon whether an accused person floats or sunk after submerged in water. If the accused person is sunk, then s/he is declared to be innocent and if s/he floats was considered as guilty. Likewise, guilt or innocence of an accused is also determined by how quickly his/her arms are healed after placing the same in boiling water.
