Consecratio, R. A kind of apotheosis or deification by which a mortal was enrolled in the number of the gods. It was unknown under the republic, and was only instituted in the time and on behalf of the emperors. The ceremony was solemnized in the Field of Mars, and with the greatest splendour. A magnificent pyre was raised, from the top of which, when kindled, an eagle was let fly, which was supposed to carry up to the skies the soul of the deified emperor. Fig. 187, taken from a medal, represents one of these pyres.

Consentiæ, Gr. and R. Festivals held in honour of the twelve principal divinities of Rome or Greece.

Consignatorium Ablutorum, Chr. In early times there were baptisteries near churches, with a place closely adjoining in which to administer the rite of confirmation; it was the place specially set apart for the administration of this rite that was called consignatorium ablutorum.

Console. A projecting ornament, in wood or stone, used as a bracket.

Constant White. Sulphate of Barytes (q.v.).

Constellations. Groups of stars, mostly with classical names. Ancient C., forty-eight formed by Ptolemy in A. D. 150, with two others added by Tycho Brahe; Modern C., fifty-nine others since formed, many by Helvetius at the end of the 17th century. (Rossiter.)

Constratum, R. A flooring constructed of planks. (See Coassatio.)

Consualia, R. A festival of ancient Rome held in honour of the god Consus. It was from this festival that the games of the circus took their rise. Livy calls the god Neptunus Equestris. The feast was held with horse and chariot races. Horses and mules did no work, and were crowned with garlands during its celebration. The Rape of the Sabines took place at the first Consualia.

Contabulatio, R. The long parallel folds formed in any garment of ample size, such as the toga, palla, and pallium.

Contignatio, R. (a joining together of beams). The wood-work of beams and joists supporting the flooring in a building of several stories. The term is also used to denote the flooring and sometimes the story itself.

Continuous Impost, Arch. In Gothic architecture, the mouldings of an arch, when carried down to the ground without interruption, or anything to mark the impost-joint. (Newlands.)

Contoise, Fr. A flowing scarf worn attached to the helmet before 1350. (See Cointise.)

Contomonobolum, R. A game which consisted in leaping over a wide space by aid of a pole (contus) which was used as a fulcrum.

Contorniate. A class of antique medals having the contour, or edge, marked with a deep cut. They generally have monograms on the obverse, and scenes of mythology on the reverse.

Contour, Fr. Outline.

Contournée, Her. Facing to the sinister.

Contra, in compound words in music, signifies an octave below: contra-basso, a double bass, &c.

Contra Votum, Chr. (i. e. against one’s desires). A formula of grief, placed by the ancients on tombs, columns, and other sepulchral monuments, and adopted by Christians in the 5th century. (See Acclamations.)

Contractura, R. The tapering of the column, which begins from the upper part of the shaft, and gradually widens as it reaches the base. (See Entasis.)

Contralto, It. In Music, the voice of deepest tone in females, allied to the tenor in men.

Contrapuntal, Mus. Relating to Counterpoint (q.v.).

Contre-imbrications. An ornament cut in the form of fishes’ scales overlapping one another, the scales being indented. In the imbrications they stand out.

Contrepoint, O. E. (See Pourpoint.)

Contubernium, R. (1) A tent capable of accommodating ten soldiers and their corporal (decanus). (2) A dwelling-place, especially for slaves. Hence contubernales came to mean comrades, and generally persons living in intimacy under one roof together.

Contus (κοντὸς), Gr. and R. (1) A punting-pole, used also for taking soundings; each trireme was furnished with three poles of different lengths. (2) A cavalry pike or lance.

Conus, Gen. (κῶνος, a cone). (1) In general, any object of a conical form. (2) A kind of sun-dial described upon a hollow cone. (3) The metal ridge at the top of a helmet, to which the plume was attached. (See Fig. 252.)

Convivium, R. A banquet which generally took place at about the same hour as the cœna, but which was never followed by a commissatio. (See Cœna, Commissatio.)

Coopertorium, R. (that which covers). A rug of coarse cloth; a kind of blanket.

Cop, O. E. Generally the top of anything; a mound or heap. (See Battlement.)

Copal. A hard resin, which, dissolved in boiling linseed oil, forms an excellent varnish for pictures. It is also used as a vehicle for painting. The South African copal is the finest in quality. (See Varnish.)

Copatain, O. E. A sugar-loaf hat; “a copped-crown hat.”

Cope, Chr. A sacerdotal garment, also called a pluvial, because it was originally worn by priests in processions as a protection against the rain. It was open in the front, and fastened on the breast by a “morse” or clasp. In the primitive Church the cope was furnished with a hood, and hence mentioned as Cuculla.

Cope, Arch. To top a wall with thin bricks or stone.

Coperone, O. E., Arch. A pinnacle.

Cop-halfpenny, O. E. The game of “heads and tails.”

Cop-head, O. E. A crest of feathers or hair on an animal’s head.

Coping, Arch. The capping or covering of a wall, generally sloping to throw off rain. In Fig. 77 two of the merlons are coped.

Cophinus. Gr. and R. A large shallow wicker basket used for agricultural purposes. Cophinus et fænum, “a basket of hay,” is Juvenal’s word for the poor man’s bed. Compare English coffin.

Coppa Puerpera, It. Caudle-cup.

Coppe (It.), Cups (Sp. copa). The early Italian suit of playing cards corresponding to hearts. The Rev. E. S. Taylor suggests, “The notion of hearts, as the seat of the affections, &c., is in connexion with the office of the clergy;” hence the chalices. (See Cœur.)

Copped, O. E. Crested. (For Cop-head, q.v.)

Copperas (white) is considered the safest metallic drier for pigments and varnish.

Copper-enamelling. (Fig. 188.) (See Enamels.)

Copper-plate Engraving. (See Chalcography.)

Coppet, O. E. Saucy.

Coppid, O. E. Peaked; referring to the fashion of the long peaked toe.

Copple-crowned, O. E. With a head high and rising up, said of a boy “with his hair on end.”

Coppull, O. E. A hen’s name (in the Turnament of Tottenham).

Cops or Merlons, Arch. The raised parts of a battlement. (See Fig. 77.)

Coracle, O. E. A boat of wicker-work covered with hides.

Coracoid (κόραξ, a crow). In the form of a crow’s beak, e. g. a bone in the shoulder-blade.

Coral (see Amulets) is mentioned in the Lapidarium of Marbodus as a very favourite and potent amulet.

Coranach, Coronach, Gaelic (corah-rainach, a crying together). A dirge.

Coranto, It. An Italian form of the country dance or jig.

Corazza, O. E. A cuirass.

Corbel, Arch. A projecting bracket supporting a pier, cornice, or column.

Corbel Steps, Arch. Steps into which the outlines of a gable are sometimes broken; also called Corbie Steps.

Corbel Table. A term in mediæval architecture, applied to a projecting course and the row of corbels which support it.

Corbie, Scotch. A raven; hence a “corbie messenger,” one that is long upon his errand, like the raven sent from the ark, who returned not again.

Corbie Steps. (See Corbel Steps.)

Corbis, R. A wicker basket of conical shape, used especially for agricultural purposes. A similar basket in every-day use in parts of Italy is still called “la corbella.” Cf. the German “Korb.”

Corbita, R. A merchantman of the larger class, so called because it hung out a basket at the masthead. These vessels were also called onerariæ.

Corbona Ecclesiæ, Chr. The treasure of a church, accumulated from the offerings of communicants at the Sacrament. The Greek synonym for this term is gazophylacium.

Corbula. Dimin. of Corbis (q.v.).

Corce, O. E. The body, stomach.

Cordate, Cordiform. Heart-shaped.

Cordax, Gr. and R. A dance of the ancient Greek comedy of a ridiculous and indecent character. Fauns and satyrs are constantly represented dancing the cordax.

Cordeliers, Fr. The Franciscan friars are so called from the rope girdles they wear.

Cordevan, O. E. A leather of goat-skin, originally from Cordova in Spain. Spelt also Cordewayne; hence cordwainer or cordiner, a shoemaker.

Cordigard, Med. (from the French corps de garde). A detachment of troops appointed for a particular service.

Corean Porcelain, from a country intermediate between China and Japan, combines the qualities of the most ancient art of each. The tea-pot represented in Fig. 189 is covered with gravings in the paste imitating the waves of the ocean, and shows four times repeated an imperial Japanese device, by which it appears that the piece was destined for the Mikado.

Corinthian Order of Architecture. This order originated in Greece, and the capital is said to have been suggested by observing a tile placed on a basket left in a garden, and an acanthus growing round it. The principal distinction of this order is its capital, richly ornamented with leaves and flowers. Among the principal Corinthian examples are the temple of Vesta, the basilica of Antoninus, and the temples of Jupiter Tonans and Jupiter Stator; all at Rome.

Corium, R. Leathern body-armour cut into scale form.

Cork burned forms the pigment called Spanish Black.

Corn. In pagan art, the attribute of Ceres and Justitia and Juno Martialis.

Cornal. The head of a tilting-lance. (See Coronel.)

Cornelian, Carnelian, Gen. A variety of chalcedony of a horny transparency and a more or less deep red. Engraved cornelians have perpetuated much information about the manners and customs of the ancient Greeks and Romans. (See Sards.)

Cornemuse. A French form of the bagpipe.

Cornet. (1) A kind of heraldic banner. (2) The bearer of the colours of a regiment. (3) Square caps worn in the Universities. (4) Any object having corners, or angular extremities. (5) An obsolete musical instrument, once in common use in Germany and in England, something like a Hautboy, but larger and of a coarser tone. (See Waits.)

Cornice. (See Coronis.)

Cornichon, Fr. A kind of game at “quoits.”

Corniculum, R. (dimin. of cornu, and so a small horn). It was a mark of distinction conferred on a soldier who had distinguished himself by his conduct or courage, and was worn on his helmet. On Thracian and other coins we find representations of this horn as part of the royal head-dress.

Cornish, O. E. The ring placed at the mouth of a cannon.

Cornlaiters, O. E. Newly-married peasants begging corn to sow their first crop with.

Cornu, Cornus, and Cornum, R. (1) The horn of an animal. (2) Any object made of horn or of a horn-like shape. The musical cornu was curved; the straight horn was called tuba.

Cornu Altaris (horn of the altar), in Christian archæology, means merely the corner or angle thereof. Cornu Evangelii is the angle to the left, c. Epistolæ that to the right, of the celebrating priest.

Cornu-copiæ, R. Horn of abundance, a symbol of concord, prosperity, and good fortune. It was represented as a wreathed horn, filled to overflowing with corn and fruit.

Corolla, R. (dimin. of Corona, q.v.). The corolla denoted in a general sense a small crown or even a garland; in a more restricted acceptation it was a garland of artificial flowers made of horn shavings and painted various colours. Women used to wear this kind of wreath during winter.

Corollarium, R. (dimin. of Corona, q.v.). It denoted especially a wreath made out of thin metal leaves, which the audience in a theatre presented to their favourite actors.

Corona (κορώνη), R. A crown or garland made with natural or artificial leaves and flowers (of horn, parchment, &c., or metal). There were many different kinds of coronæ, of which the principal were the following: corona civica; corona classica, navalis, or rostrata; corona castrensis or vallaris; corona longa; corona muralis; corona obsidionalis; corona natalitia; corona oleagina; corona ovalis; corona pactilis, plectilis, or plexilis; corona triumphalis; corona sutilis, &c. The most honourable was the c. obsidionalis, presented by a beleaguered army, after its liberation, to the general who raised the siege. It was made of grass, or wild flowers plucked on the site. The c. civica was presented to a Roman soldier who had saved the life of a citizen in battle. It was made of oak leaves. The c. navalis was made of gold. The c. muralis, presented to the first man over the wall of a besieged city, was also made of gold, and it was ornamented with turrets. The c. castrensis, presented to the first soldier who forced an entrance into an enemy’s camp, was of gold ornamented with palisades. Of the c. triumphalis there were three kinds: one of laurel or bay leaves, worn by the commanding officer during his triumph; one of massive gold held over his head; and a third of still greater value, also of gold. The c. ovalis, to commemorate an ovation to an officer, was made of myrtle leaves. The c. oleagina, of olive leaves, was given to common soldiers. Besides these, there were the various sacerdotal coronæ, emblematical of their functions: the funereal chaplets of leaves and flowers for the dead, called c. funebres or sepulchrales; the wreaths of roses, violets, myrtles, ivy, &c., worn at convivial meetings, c. convivialis; and the bridal wreath, of Greek origin, made of flowers not bought, but plucked by the bride herself, the verbena being the chosen flower among the Romans, c. nuptialis; and finally the c. natalitia suspended over the door of a house where a child was born. At Athens this was of olive for a boy, and of wool for a girl. At Rome the wreath was made of laurel, ivy, or parsley. The various crowns used in heraldry are described under their respective headings. (See Crown.)

Corona or Drip-stone, Gen. A moulding forming part of a cornice, the lower part or drip of which is grooved, so as to throw off the rain-water from the structure. Drip-stones are sometimes plain, sometimes decorated with rich sculptures.

Corona Lucis, Chr. A lamp or chandelier suspended above the altar of a church, from which usually depended a jewelled cross.

Coronach, Scotch. A dirge.

Coronarium (aureum), R. The gold for a triumphal crown (corona triumphalis): it was sent by the provinces to a victorious chief or general.

Coronarium (opus), R. Stucco-work applied to the decoration of a cornice or projecting moulding.

Coronel, Med. The head of a jousting-lance, so called from its resemblance to a little crown. Twelve were allowed to a tilter in the time of Henry VI. (Meyrick.)

Coronell, O. E. A colonel.

Coronets. Ensigns of nobility worn upon the head, introduced into England about the middle of the 14th century. (See Baron, Duke, Earl, &c.) Ladies also wore them surmounting the horned head-dress of the reign of Henry V. The engraving (Fig. 196) represents Beatrice, Countess of Arundel, with coronet.

Coronis (κορωνίς). Anything curved; the cornice of an entablature.

Coronize (Gr. κορωνίζω, from κορώνη, a crow). To beg for the crow; said of strollers who went about begging with a crow, singing begging songs. (See Chelidonize.)

Corporal, O. E. The fine linen cloth or veil for the pyx, sometimes embroidered with golden thread and coloured silks. With such a “corporal” Mary, Queen of Scots, bandaged her eyes for her execution.

Corpse-candle, O. E. A thick candle used formerly at lake-wakes.

Corpse-gate or Lich-gate. A shed over the gate of a churchyard to rest the corpse under. (Fig. 197.)

Corrugis, R. (corrugo, to wrinkle). Literally, wrinkled; a loose garment which was wrapped round the body, and fell into numerous folds, so as to present the appearance of a wrinkled surface.

Cors, Arch. The shaft of a pinnacle.

Corsæ, R. The mouldings decorating the surface of a marble door-post.

Corse, O. E. (See Corce.)

Corse of Silk, O. E. Probably a silk ribbon.

Corselet, Fr. A light breastplate; 16th and 17th centuries.

Corspresant, Med. A mortuary.

Cortina, R. (1) A deep circular vessel in the shape of a saucepan, used for various purposes. (2) The snake’s skin spread over the tripod of the Pythoness at Delphi. (3) An altar of marble, bronze, or the precious metals, in the form of a tripod. (4) The vault over the stage in a theatre was called cortina, from its resemblance to the lid of a tripod. (5) Tables of marble or bronze, made to imitate the slab upon which the Delphic priestess sat, were also called cortinæ Delphicæ. (See Fig. 199.)

Cortinale, R. A cellar in which wine was boiled in caldrons (cortinæ) to preserve it.

Corundum. The Indian name for a very hard mineral called adamantine spar. The ruby and sapphire are varieties of corundum.

Corven. O. E. for carven, cut.

Corvus, R. (lit. crow). A crane or grappling-iron, used in naval warfare. It was a strong piece of iron with a spike at the end, which, being violently let down upon a ship from the yard-arm, or a special mast made for the purpose, went through the bottom and sank it, or at any rate grappled it fast. A variety of corvus was also made use of in the assault of fortified places.

Corybantica, Gr. and R. Festivals celebrated at Cnossus, in Crete, by the Corybantes, in honour of Atys and his mother Cybele. The priests ran through town and country carrying torches and uttering savage cries to the accompaniment of drums and cymbals. They performed frenzied dances known under the name of Corybantic dances.

Corycæum, Gr. and R. A large apartment in a gymnasium or a large bathing establishment, for the Corycobolia or sack-throwing, a game which consisted in suspending from the ceiling of the corycæum, at the height of about a yard from the ground, a sack filled with sand, bran, or seeds, to be thrust away with blows of the fist, and when it was in full swing to be stopped with the hands, back, or breast. The exercise was also called Corycomachia.

Corymbus, R. (κόρυμβος, a cluster). (1) A bunch of any fruit that grows in clusters, such as ivy-berries. (2) A head-dress or wig arranged in the form of corymbi, in a knot at the top of the head, as that of Venus is represented in the Medici statue. (3) The term is also sometimes used as a synonym of Aplustre (q.v.).

Corynalle, Arch. (See Cornal.)

Coryphæus, Gr. (lit. at the head). (1) Any leader. (2) Esp. the leader of the chorus of the Attic drama. (3) An epithet of Jupiter Capitolinus.

Corytus, Gr. and R. A bow-case. The quiver for arrows was called pharetra.

Cos, R. A hone, whetstone, or grindstone. Fig. 200 is taken from an engraved gem.

Cosmi (κόσμοι). The supreme magistrates in Crete.

Costanti. One of the Italian literary academies. They had for their device the sun shining on a column, with the motto Tantum volvitur umbra (the shadow only revolves).

Cote, O. E. A woman’s gown; 15th century.

Cote Armour. (See Coat Armour, Tabard.)

Cote-hardie. A tight-fitting gown; 14th century.

Cothurnus, Gr. and R. The Buskin; a high boot of Greek invention, met with on representations of certain divinities and of some of the emperors covered with rich ornamentation. It is an attribute of the huntress Diana. The sole was thickened with cork for tragic actors, to make them taller. Horsemen wore it as high as the knee.

Cotillion (Fr. cotte, an under-petticoat). A dance introduced from France, where it usually terminated a ball.

Cotise, Her. A diminutive of the Bend, being one-fourth of its width.

Cotta. A short surplice.

Cottabus, Cottabê, Cotabos, Gr. and R. A game of Greek origin, played in various manners, by throwing wine into empty cups swimming on a basin of water, or into scales suspended above a bronze ornament. The man who drowned most cups won a prize, or he who made the best sound had a good omen. There were other methods.

Cotyla, Gr. and R. A measure of capacity equal to half a pint English.

Cotyttia (κοττύτια). Nocturnal festivals celebrated by the Edonians of Thrace in honour of a goddess called Cotytto (Cybele).

Couchant or Dormant, Her. In repose. The illustration gives the device of King Richard II., a white hart couchant on a mount, &c. (Fig. 201.)

Coucher, O. E. A book kept couched or lying on a desk, e. g. books of the church services left in the places where they were used.

Coudières. (See Coutere.)

Coufic. (See Cufic.)

Coulisse, Tech. A piece of timber with a channel or groove in it, such as that in which the side-scenes of a theatre move.

Counter, Her. Reversed or opposite.

Counterfort, Arch. A buttress.

Counterpoint, Music. The art of combining melodies, or rather of adding to a melody harmonious parts. Double Counterpoint is “a kind of artificial composition, where the parts are inverted in such a manner that the uppermost becomes the lowermost, and vice versâ.” (See Stainer and Barrett, Dic. of Musical Terms.)

Counter-proof. An impression of an engraving printed from a wet proof.

Counter-seal or Secretum. A seal on the reverse or back of another seal. Early seals were generally impressed on both sides.

Countess, Arch. A roofing slate, 20 inches by 10 inches.

Couped, Her. Cut off smoothly. The reverse of erased.

Coupled (columns), Gen. Two columns are said to be coupled when they are placed quite close to each other without touching. Coupled heads is the term applied to two heads placed back to back upon the same pedestal or the same trunk. Many pedestals ornamented with Hermæ (q.v.) are surmounted by coupled heads.

Courant, Her. Running.

Course, Arch. One range, or stratum, of bricks, stones, or other material in the construction of a wall.

Court Cards. The king, queen, and knave of a suit. They were originally named in France; e. g. the four kings were Charlemagne, Cæsar, Alexander, and David; the four queens, Judith, Rachel, Argine, and Pallas; and the valets, Lahire, Hector, Lancelot, and Hogier. Of these the kings were said to represent the four ancient monarchies of the Jews, Greeks, Romans, and Franks; and the queens, wisdom, birth, beauty, and fortitude. (Taylor.) (See Chatrang.)

Court Cupboards, O. E. Richly carved and large cupboards for plate and other valuables, temp. Charles I.

Court Dish, O. E. A kind of drinking-cup.

Courtepy (Teutonic). Short cloak or gown.

Coussinet, Arch. The crowning stone of a pier, lying immediately under the arch.

Coutel, Fr. A short knife or dagger in use in the Middle Ages.

Coutere or Coutes. The elbow-piece in armour.

Couvre-feu, Angl. Curfew. A screen used, as its name implies, for covering the fire; introduced with the famous Curfew-bell, temp. William Rufus. (Fig. 202.)

Cove, Arch. A name for concave mouldings or other concavities.

Coved Ceiling, Arch. A ceiling springing from the walls with a cove.

Coventry Blue. A celebrated “blew threde” made at Coventry, temp. Elizabeth.

Covert, Her. Partly covered.

Covinus, R. (Celtic, kowain). A war-chariot. The spokes of its wheels were armed with scythes. [It was used by the ancient Britons. The Romans gave the name to a close travelling carriage covered in all round.] (Compare Currus, Carpentum.)

Coward or Cowed, Her. An animal with its tail between its legs.

Cow-lady, O. E. The lady-bird.

Cowl, Mod. (from cuculla, Cucullus, q.v.). A priest’s hood.

Cox or Cokes, O. E. A fool; hence Coxcomb, for the top of a fool’s cap.

Crackle Porcelain or Cracklin. A kind of china, the glaze of which has been purposely cracked all over in the kiln. The Chinese have many kinds of this manufacture, some of which are extremely rare and valuable. White and grey are the common colours amongst modern crackle. The yellow and cream-coloured specimens are much prized: these are seldom seen in Europe. The greens, light and dark, turquoise, and reds are generally finely glazed, and have the crackle lines small and minute. In colouring, these examples are exquisite, and in this respect they throw our finest specimens of European porcelain quite into the shade. The green and turquoise crackle made in China at the present day are very inferior to the old kinds. Perhaps the rarest and most expensive of all ancient crackles is a yellowish stone-colour. (Fortune.)

Crackled Glass. (See Glass.)

Cracowes. Long-toed boots and shoes, introduced in 1384.

Cradle Vault, Arch. A cylindrical vault.

Cradling. A builder’s term for a timber frame for a ceiling, &c.

Craig, Scotch. (1) A rock. (2) The neck; throat.

Crampet. The decorated end of a scabbard.

Crampon. The border of gold which keeps a stone in a ring. (See Collet.)

Cramp-ring, O. E. A ring consecrated on Good Friday, an amulet against cramp.

Crancelin, Her. (from the German Kranzlein, a small wreath). The chaplet that crosses the shield of Saxony. It is said to be an augmentation conferred by the Emperor Barbarossa, who took from his head his own chaplet of rue, and threw it across the shield of the Duke of Saxony. (Boutell.)

Crane’s-bills. Geraniums, so called from the shape of their seed-vessels.

Crannogs, Irish. Lake fortresses constructed on artificial islands.

Crapaudine Doors. A technical name for doors that turn on pivots at top and bottom, or are hung with so called centre-pin hinges.

Crash. The grey linen used for the kind of embroidery called crewelwork.

Crater, Gr. and R. (κρατὴρ, from κεράννυμι, to mix). (1) A large and beautiful vase with a wide open mouth, in which the wine and water was mixed which was handed round at banquets and sacrifices. It was into vases of this description that slaves dipped a ladle (cyathus), with which they filled the cups. The beautiful silver crater shown in the illustration (Fig. 203), of a date not later than the 1st century, was found with other treasures of a similar kind at Hildesheim, near Hanover, in 1869. It is now in the Berlin Museum. (2) The mouth of a volcano is named from its resemblance to the Greek crater. (3) A small constellation of the southern hemisphere called the Cup.

Crates, R. A frame or basket made of hurdles, and so a hurdle itself. (English, “crate.”)

Craticula, R. (dimin. of crates). A small hurdle, and by analogy, a gridiron, which looks like a small hurdle.

Creag, O. E. The game of ninepins.

Creagra. Gr. (κράγρα, from κρέας and ἀγρέω, i. e. a flesh-hook). A synonym of the Latin term Harpago (q.v.).

Creasing. A builder’s word for a row of tiles under the coping of a wall.

Credence Table. The small table beside an altar, on which the communion was placed before consecration.

Creme-box, O. E. A chrismatory (q.v.).

Cremesyn, O. E. Crimson velvet.

Cremium, R. (cremo, to burn). Small wood, made up into bundles, used by bakers, and for lighting the hypocausts under the baths.

Crenel. The peak at the top of a helmet.

Crenellated, Her. Embattled. (See Battlement.)