Fig. 295. The Ermine. Arms of Anne of Brittany.
Fig. 295. The Ermine. Arms of Anne of Brittany.
Fig. 295. The Ermine. Arms of Anne of Brittany.
Ermine,Ermines,Erminois, Her. The animal, the ermine, sometimes appears in blazon, and an ermine spot is borne as a charge. Generally the ermine is an emblem of royalty, purity, and honour. The illustration (Fig.295) is of the arms of Anne of Bretagne, the Queen of Charles VIII.
Erotidia, Gr. (ἐρωτίδια). Festivals held every fifth year at Thespiæ in Bœotia, in honour of Eros, the principal divinity of the Thespians.
Erpa, Egyp. A title in use among the Egyptians implying authority generally; the crown prince was so designated, and the high priest was, in the same manner, callederpaof the priests.
Fig. 296. Escallop.
Fig. 296. Escallop.
Fig. 296. Escallop.
EscalloporScallop Shellswere emblems worn by pilgrims, and of St. James the Great, from the 13th century.
Escape, Arch, (or Apopyge). The small curvature given to the top and bottom of the shaft of a column where it expands to meet the edge of the fillet above the torus of the base, and beneath the astragal under the capital.
Fig. 297. Escaufaille, or portable brazier.
Fig. 297. Escaufaille, or portable brazier.
Fig. 297. Escaufaille, or portable brazier.
Escaufaille, Fr. A small portable brazier on wheels, which was taken from room to room as required.
Eschelles, Fr. “A stomacher laced or ribboned in the form of a ladder.” (Ladies’ Dict., 1694.)
Escoinson, Med. Fr. The interior edge of the window-side or jamb. This was often decorated with a pilaster called the “pilastre des écoinsons.”
Escroll, Her. A ribbon charged with a motto; also a ribbon, coiled at its extremities, borne as a charge.
Fig. 298. Escutcheon of the Sforzas.
Fig. 298. Escutcheon of the Sforzas.
Fig. 298. Escutcheon of the Sforzas.
Escutcheon.(1) The heraldic shield. (2) Metal plates on doors. Escutcheons are abundantly used in Gothic architecture, and are frequently carved on the bosses of ceilings and at the ends of weather mouldings, &c. Sometimes. instead of armorial bearings, escutcheons have the instruments of the Crucifixion or other devices carved on them.
Escutcheon of Pretence, Her. A shield charged upon the field of another shield of larger size, and bearing a distinct coat of arms.
Espadon.A long Spanish sword. It was the weapon used for decapitation of criminals.
Espietus,Expiotus, Med. Lat. A dart (1361).
Espringale,Springale,Espringold. A machine for throwing darts.
Esquire, Her. A rank next below that of knight.
Esseda,Essedum, R. (from the Celticess, a carriage). A chariot of Gaulish origin, drawn by two horses, which was used by the Britons and the Germans in war. It was mounted on two wheels, and was open in front, but closed behind. The pole was broad, and the rider used to run to and fro upon it in the battle. The Romans constructed carriages of a similar kind. A similar chariot drawn by one horse was called thecisium. (SeeCurrus.)
Essonite.The cinnamon-stone, a variety of the garnet. It is of a reddish yellow tint, resembling the colour of cinnamon. These stones come principally from Ceylon, and are frequently sold for hyacinths or jacinths, from which, however, they differ in many important peculiarities. (H. Emanuel.)
Este.A manufactory in Italy of soft porcelain; also of fine faience and pipe-clay.
Estivation, Bot. The arrangement of the unexpanded leaves of the flower-bud which burst in Summer; as opposed toVernation, the arrangement of the leaves of the bud which burst in Spring.
Estoc, Fr. (Med. Lat.estoquum). A short sword worn at the girdle; also called a “tuck” (temp.Elizabeth).
Estoile, Her. A star with wavy rays or points, which are six, eight, or sometimes more in number.
Estrade, Fr., Arch. A platform raised three or four inches above the rest of the floor of a chamber, upon which to place a bed or a throne, &c.
EstriforEstref, Med. A kind of arrow for the balista.
Etching.In this process the copper plate is covered with anetching-ground, which is a preparation of bees’-wax, Burgundy pitch, black pitch, and asphaltum (or other ingredients); and the lines of the design are traced out withetching-needles, which remove the etching-ground from the copper wherever they pass, and slightly scratch the surface of the plate. Next, a border ofbanking-waxis put round the sides of the plate, making a trough of it. Thebanking-waxis made of bees’-wax, common pitch, Burgundy pitch, and sweet oil melted in a crucible and poured into cold water. The next operation is to pour in nitrous acid reduced with water to a proper strength (about one part acid to four parts water). When the acid has been on a sufficient time to corrode the fainter parts of the subject, it is to be poured off, the plate washed with water, and left to dry. These fainter parts are then to be varnished with a mixture calledstopping-ground, made of lamp-black and Venice turpentine, applied with a camel’s-hair pencil. This stops the further action of the acid on these parts. When the surface is dry, fresh acid is poured on tobite inthe bolder parts, and the processes ofstoppingandbiting-inare alternated for every gradation of tint. The wax is removed from the plate by heat, and cleaned away with a rag moistened with olive oil; and the work is then complete, or it may be finished off with thegraver.Etching-pointsorneedlesresemble common needles, fixed in handles four or five inches long; some are made oval to produce broader lines. Thedry pointis only a very fine-pointed needle for the delicate lines. Imitations of chalk and pencil drawings are sometimes produced byetching on soft ground.Etching on steelis done in the same way as on copper. Foretching on glass, a ground of bees’-wax is laid on, and the design traced as above. Sulphuric acid is then poured on, and fluor-spar sprinkled on it, or fluoric acid may be at once used; this is allowed to remain four or five hours, and is then removed with oil of turpentine. (See alsoStipple,Mezzotinto,Aquatinta.)
Etereaof Padua. One of the Italian literary academies. Their device, a charioteer in his car in the air, drawn by a white and black horse, the one endeavouring to touch the earth, the other to ascend. Motto, “Victor se tollit ad auras.”
Etiolation.The process of blanching to which plants are subject in dark places.
Ettwee.O. E. forEtui(q.v.).
Fig. 299. Etui.
Fig. 299. Etui.
Fig. 299. Etui.
Etui, Fr. (by contractionTwee, Boyer). A case formerly worn at the girdle by ladies. They were made of gold or silver, or ornamented with paintings in enamel. The richly-decorated example represented in Fig.299was the property of a granddaughter of Oliver Cromwell.
Euripus, R. (εὔριπος). An artificial canal or watercourse in the gardens of a Roman villa, generally stocked with fish and aquatic or amphibious animals. The same term was applied to a moat dug at the foot of thepodiumin an amphitheatre or circus, which was intended, in conjunction with the metal railings or trellis-work placed at the top of thepodium, as a protection to the spectators, when wild beasts were exhibited in the arena.Euripusis also applied by Tertullian and other authors to thespinaof a circus.
Eustyle, Arch. (εὔ-στυλος). An intercolumniation in which the columns are separated by a width of two diameters and a quarter, measured at the lower part of the column, excepting the central intercolumn, which is of three diameters. It is the form of columniation which, according to Vitruvius, satisfied the demands at once of solidity of structure, beauty of appearance, and general harmony of effect.
Euterpean.Pertaining to music: from the Muse Euterpe.
Everriculum, R. (everro, to sweep out). A fishing-net.
Ewery, Med. An office of household service, where the ewers, &c., were kept: our modernscullery.
Exacisculatus, R. Destroyed by means of a pick (acisculus). The term is of frequent occurrence in sepulchral inscriptions, its purpose being to serve as a notice to the thieves who broke into tombs.
Examen, R. (exigo, to examine). The tongue or index on the beam of a balance.
Exasciatus, R. Hewn or fashioned with the adze (ascia); whence the expressionopus exasciatumfor work which only required to be finished or polished.
Excalceatus, R. (lit. without shoes or boots). A comic actor or comedian who wore sandals. The tragic actor, on the other hand, who wore on the stage the laced boot orcothurnus, was calledcothurnatus.
Excubitorium, R. The post or guard of theexcubitores; of these there was one in each quarter of the city, or fourteen in all.
Fig. 300. Exedra.
Fig. 300. Exedra.
Fig. 300. Exedra.
Exedra, Gr. and R. An assembly-room or hall for discussion or conversation, forming part of a gymnasium, palæstra, or private house. In many casesexedræwere in the open air, consisting merely of circular marble benches. (Fig.300.) When an exedra was covered in, one of the sides often terminated in a circular apse (absis). [Larger rooms were called “Leschai.”]
Exedrium, R. Diminutive ofExedra(q.v.).
Exequiæ.(SeeExsequiæ.)
Exergue.The bottom space on a coin, where the date is engraved.
Exiteria, Gr. and R. (ἐξιτήρια, concerning departure or result). Sacrifices offered to propitiate the gods on the eve of an important enterprise, or in gratitude for success.
Exomis, Gr. and R. (ἐξ-ωμὶς, i. e. off the shoulders). A short tunic, of Greek origin, adopted by the Romans. It left the right shoulder and arm exposed, and had only a short sleeve for the left arm. The term was also applied to thepallium, when so arranged upon the person as to resemble the tunic just described.
Exonarthex.(SeeNarthex.)
Exostra, Gr. and R. (ἐξώστρα). (1) A flying bridge thrown from a movable tower (acrobaticon) on to the walls of a besieged town, by means of which the assailants made their way into the place. (2) A theatrical machine which was pushed to the front of the stage from behind a curtain which concealed it until it was wanted.
Expeditus(opposed toimpeditus), R. Free, unencumbered; light-armed troops (velites) were thus called (expediti), [or any other troops, when they left theirimpedimentabehind for a forced march, &c.]
Expositories.(SeeMonstrances.)
Exsequiæ, R. (exsequor, to follow after). A funeral conducted with great pomp. (SeeFunus.)
Extispicium, R. (extaandinspicio, to inspect). Divination by inspection of the entrails of victims sacrificed on the altar; called alsoharuspicina.
Extra-dos, Arch. The exterior curve of an arch; opposed to theSOFFITorINTRA-DOS.
Extremities.In Art, the head, feet, and hands: compareacrolithes.
Ex-voto, Gen. Offerings of any kind in fulfilment of a vow (ex voto).
Eye.In Christian art, the emblem of Providence. Attribute of St. Lucia, as a symbol,notof her martyrdom, but of the meaning of hername(“light”). (SeeOudja,Oculus.)