[Anglicized form of med.L. alfetum, latinized form of OE. ál-fæt, f. ál burning + fæt vat, vessel (cf. ál-ʓeweorc tinder), in Laws of Æthelstán.] The cauldron used in the ordeal of scalding water. (Not Eng. since 1100; mod. form would be ole-vat.)
a. 1000. Anct. Laws, I. 226. Si þæt álfæt ísen oþþen ǽren, léaden oþþe lǽmen. [1678 Du Cange, Alfetum.]
1678. Phillips, Alfet, a kind of Ordeal anciently used, which was by a great Caldron of scalding water, into which the accused person was to put his arm up to the elbow, and if hurt he was held guilty, if not acquitted. [In Bailey, Ash, Tomlins, etc., but only from Du Cange.]
