planchette

A planchette is the small, usually heart-shaped piece of wood or plastic used on a Ouija board. Players lightly rest their fingers on it, and it seems to move across the board to spell out messages. Some people link that movement to spirits, while others explain it as subconscious muscle movement. Before it became tied to the supernatural, it was also used as a device for automatic writing. You probably will not hear this word in everyday conversation unless someone is talking about paranormal activity, spiritualism, or old games.

The word "planchette" comes from the French word for "small plank" and originally referred to a small writing board used as an automatic writing device long before it became famous (or infamous!) as part of a Ouija board. In the late 19th century, inventors were fascinated with spiritualism and automatic writing—the idea that spirits could guide a person's hand to write messages without conscious effort. The planchette was designed to facilitate this process, often featuring small wheels and a hole for a pencil, allowing users to trace shapes or letters on paper seemingly by themselves.

However, it is most widely known today as the pointer used in a Ouija board game. A Ouija board features a flat surface marked with letters, numbers, and other symbols. Players place their fingers lightly on the planchette, ask questions, and watch as it supposedly moves to spell out answers. While this movement is often attributed to spirits or supernatural forces, skeptics and scientists argue that it is caused by the ideomotor effect—subconscious muscle movements influenced by expectations and suggestions.

Regardless of its origins, the planchette remains a potent symbol of mystery, communication with the unknown, and perhaps a little bit of playful spookiness. You might read about a planchette in a historical novel set during the Victorian era (when spiritualism was at its peak) or see it featured in a horror movie. You are unlikely to use the term when describing anything other than this specific tool, making it a niche but highly recognizable word in the lexicon of the paranormal.