''Cantrip'' is a word of
Scots origin to mean a
magical spell of any kind, or one which reads the same forwards and backwards. It can also be a witch's trick, or a sham. It is possibly derived from the
Gaelic
Gaelic is an adjective that means "pertaining to the Gaels". As a noun it refers to the group of languages spoken by the Gaels, or to any one of the languages individually. Gaelic languages are spoken in Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, and Ca ...
''
canntaireachd Canntaireachd (; ) is the ancient method of teaching, learning and memorizing ''Piobaireachd'' (also spelt ''Pibroch''), a type of music primarily played on the Great Highland bagpipe. In the canntairached method of instruction, the teacher sings or ...
'', a
piper's mnemonic chant.
In the ''
Dungeons & Dragons''
role-playing game
A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of player character, characters in a fictional Setting (narrative), setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within ...
, it is a type of minor
spell
Spell(s) or The Spell(s) may refer to:
Processes
* Spell (paranormal), an incantation
* Spell (ritual), a magical ritual
* Spelling, the writing of words
Arts and entertainment Film and television
* ''The Spell'' (1977 film), an American t ...
that generally is the simplest and weakest kind available to learn. ("Most cantrips are simple little spells of no great effect, so... knowledge and information pertaining to these small magics are discarded in favor of the more powerful spells when available.") The differences, in terms of game mechanics, between cantrips and more powerful spells have changed from edition to edition.
In the trading card game ''
Magic: The Gathering'', a cantrip is player jargon to refer to a spell that, in addition to any other effect, makes you draw a card.
In the deck building game
Dominion, a cantrip is any Action card that is self-replacing: it both draws you one card and gives you an Action used to play it.
References
Incantation
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