PET'ALISM, noun [Gr. See Petal.] A form of sentence among the ancient Syracusans, by which they proscribed a citizen whose wealth or popularity alarmed their jealousy, or who was suspected of aspiring to sovereign power; temporary proscription, or banishment for five years. The mode was to give their votes by writing his name on a leaf. petalism in Syracuse answered to ostracism in Athens.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI