needfire

Needfire was then obtained by friction, and all the fires were rekindled from what was regarded as the sacred flame.

The last time the “needfire” was used in the Keswick neighbourhood, Mr. William Wilson says, was in 1841.

The term “needfire” seems to be a corruption of “neatfire,” neat cattle being an old and common term.

I never heard of the use of the needfire in the Marsh, though it was, I believe, used on the wolds not many miles off.

As thou knowest, it seemed to me that I was watching two sparkles from the extinguished Needfire wheel.