disease boat

• Rhymes: -əʊt

disease boat (plural disease boats)

1. (historical) In early societies, a boat, canoe, etc., in which community members suffering from a disease were exiled in the belief that the evil spirits of the disease would be carried away.
   • 1920, Edward Carpenter, Pagan and Christian Creeds, New York: Harcourt, Brace and Co., page 165:

     The loading of diseases into disease-boats, of sins onto scape-goats, the propitiation of the forces of nature by victims, human or animal, sacrifices, ceremonies of re-birth, eucharistic feasts, sexual communions, orgiastic celebrations of the common life, and a host of other things — all said plainly enough what was meant, but not in words.