O.

Owas used as a numeral by the ancients to represent 11, and with a dash over it (Ō) to denote 11,000.

O, O. E. Anything circular. Shakspeare calls the stars “those fiery O’s.”

Oak-apple Day, O. E. The 29th of May, in commemoration of the escape of King Charles in the oak-tree.

Oak-tree, the emblem of virtue, force, and strength, is frequently introduced in ancient sculpture. In Christian art an attribute of St. Boniface, in allusion to his cutting down a Druidical oak.

Oasis(from the Copticouah, a resting-place). One of the verdant spots that occur at intervals in the deserts of Africa; hence any fertile spot in a desert, with the obvious symbolical application.

Oast-house, O. E. A kiln for drying hops.

Oban.The principal gold coin of Japan, worth about 4l.2s.

Obba, Gr. and R. (ἄμβιξ). A drinking-vessel of earthenware or wood, probably funnel-shaped; hence—

Obbatus, Gr. and R. Made in the shape of anobba, that is, terminating in a point. The term is often applied to the cap of the Dioscuri.

Fig. 494. Egyptian Obelisk.

Obelisk(ὀβελίσκος, lit. a small spit). Also called a needle. A tall, rectangular, monolithic column, of slightly pyramidal shape, invented by the Egyptians; in nearly every case they are covered from the base to the top, and on all four sides, with hieroglyphic symbols. (Fig.494.)

Oberon.The king of the fairies.

Obex, R. (objicio, to obstruct). Any contrivance to keep a door closed, such as a bolt, lock, latch, iron bar, &c.

Oblata, Chr. The sacred bread. This word was more commonly applied to theunconsecratedloaf, andHostiato theconsecrated. (For particulars respecting the preparation and the form ofoblates, see the articleElementsinSmith and Cheetham,Dict. of Christian Antiquities.) In the same mannerOblatiwere lay-brothers in a monastery who had not taken the vows.

Oblate.Flattened or shortened like the earth at the poles. The earth is anoblatespheroid.

Oblationarium, Chr. A small table placed near the high altar, or at the end of one of the side aisles, on which the people laid their offerings. It was also used, when in the choir, to hold the sacred utensils in place of thecredence table. In the Greek Church theoblationariumis still used for the bread, wine, and sacred vessels required in the mass.

Oble,Oblete(Lat.oblata), O. E. The consecrated wafer distributed to communicants at mass.

“Ne Jhesu was nat theobleThat reysed was at the sacre.”(Harl. MS.)

“Ne Jhesu was nat theoble

That reysed was at the sacre.”

(Harl. MS.)

Hence, a wafer-cake, sweetened with honey, and made of the finest wheaten bread.

OboeorHautboy(from Fr.haut, high, andbois, wood). A wind instrument like a flute, sounded through a reed.

Obolo, Mod. A copper coin, worth about a halfpenny, circulated in the Ionian Islands.

Obolos, Gr. (derived fromὀβολὸς, a brooch, originally). A small copper coin worth the sixth part of a drachm. The obolos in later times was of bronze; but in the best times of Athens it was of silver. Its value in the Æginetan standard was 1·166 of a penny.

Obscœna, Chr. Obscene representations frequently met with in Christian iconography, which, according to De Canmont, are “to warn the faithful that they ought to enter the temple with pure hearts, leaving outside all the passions that soil the soul.”

Obsidian.A volcanic glass found near volcanoes, used in antiquity for the manufacture of mirrors, axes, knives, &c. (SeeGlass.)

Obstragulum, R. A long leather strap (amentum) worn as a fastening to thecrepida.

Obstrigillum, R. A shoe, the sides of which were lengthened into a lappet over the instep.

Obturaculum,Obturamentum, R. (obturo, to stop up). A stopper for the neck of a bottle or the mouth of a vessel.

Obverse.Of a coin, the face, or side which bears the principal symbol. The other side is theReverse.

Ocal, Span. Coarse silk.

Occabus, R. (ὄκκαβος). A kind of spoon.

Occidental Diamond.A precious stone of inferior hardness and beauty.

Occultation.The disappearance or eclipse of one heavenly body behind another.

Ocellata, R. (lit. marked withocellior spots). Marbles used as playthings by children.

Ocellated.Full of eyes; said of a peacock’s tail. (See Fig.398.)

Ochre.Argillaceous earth of different colours which, when finely ground, is used as a pigment.Red ochreis a form of specular iron ore;brown ochreis a variety of hæmatite. Theyellow ochresbecome red when calcined, but the finest reds are made from those which are brown in the bed. Native red ochre is calledred chalkorreddlein England.Spanish Brown,Indian Red,Venetian Red, and the yellow ochres have nearly the same composition. The other ochres are known asOxford,Roman, andstone ochres, and asterra di Siennaandumber. They are all valuable and durable pigments for oil, water, or enamel painting. (SeeAmatita.)

Ocrea, R. A greave; a piece of armour which covered the shin-bone from below the knee to the ankle. It was generally richly ornamented by designs embossed or chased upon it. (ModernJambes.)

Octagon.A figure of eight equal sides, considered as an emblem of regeneration; consequently the proper form for baptistries and fonts. (Fairholt.)

Octahedron.A solid contained by eight equal sides, which are equilateral triangles.

Octastyle, R. (ὀκτά-στυλος). Anoctastyleportico is a portico having eight columns in front;octastylepediment, a pediment supported by eight columns. The pediment of the Parthenon at Athens, from which the Elgin Marbles come, is anoctastyle.

Octave.(1) In Music, the longest interval in the diatonic scale; as fromdotodo, orCtoC. (2) Chr. Eight days, or the eighth day after a Church festival (the festival being included) kept as a repetition or prolongation of the festival. It is a Western custom unknown to the Eastern Church.

October.The eighth month of the old Roman year, but the tenth in the calendar of Numa, Julius Cæsar, &c. It was sacred to Mars, and a horse called theOctober equuswas annually sacrificed to Mars.

Octofoil, Her. A doublequatrefoil; thedifferenceof a ninth son.

OctophoronorOctaphoron, Gr. and R. (ὀκτώφορον). A litter (lectica) borne by eight slaves.

Fig. 495. Ocularium in a helmet.

Ocularium, Med. Lat. The narrow slit or opening for the sight in a helmet. (See Fig.495.)

Oculus, Chr. A round window of frequent occurrence in the tympanum of the pediment in Latin basilicas, and occasionally in certain churches of the 11th century.

Ode(ᾠδὴ, a song). A short lyrical poem, intended to be sung to the accompaniment of an instrument, especially thelyre; hence the expressionlyricpoetry.

Fig. 496. Ground-plan of the Odeon at Athens.

Odeon(ᾠδεῖον;ᾠδὴ, a song). A small theatre at Athens, built by Pericles for musical performances. By analogy, the name was applied to any theatre built on a circular plan and covered with a roof, like that of Athens, shown in Fig.496.

Fig. 497. Ground-plan of a Greek house.

Œcos,Œcus, Gr. (οἶκος). A Greek house; the term, however, denoted rather a large apartment resembling the atrium, but entirely shut in, that is to say, without impluvium. In Fig.497, A is the œcus; B, C, two rooms forming offices; D, a tablinum; E, a portico; G, the entrance to the house; H, work-rooms; J, the triclinium.Œcus tetrastyloswas a house in which four columns supported the roof;œcus Corinthius, having one order of columns supporting an architrave, cornice, and an arched roof;œcus Egyptius, in which the pillars supported a gallery with a paved floor, forming a walk round the apartment; above these pillars others were placed, one-fourth less in height; and between the upper columns were placed windows; and theœcus Cyzicenus, which looked to the north, and, if possible, faced gardens, to which it opened by folding doors, was a summer-house. (SeeDomus.)

Œil-de-bœuf, Arch. A small round or oval window in a roof.

Œillets.(SeeOillets.)

Fig. 498. Œnochoê, decorated withzoophori, or bands of animals.

Fig. 498 a. Œnochoê, or Wine-jug, in black glazed earthenware.

Œnochoê(Gr.οἶνος, wine, andχέω, to pour). An earthen vase used to take the wine out of the crater and distribute it into cups. It is the vase carried by the goddesses, and used for libations. (Figs. 498, 498 a.)

Œnophorum, Gr. and R. (οἰνοφόρον). A light case or basket for carrying wine.

Œnopolium, Gr. and R. (οἰνοπώλιον). The shop of a dealer who sold wine to be carried away; distinct from thetaberna meritoriaordeversoria, which was a public tavern.

Offendix, R. A string by which theapex, or cap worn by the flamens, Salians, or other members of priestly colleges, was fastened under the chin.

Offertoria, Chr. (1) The anthems sung in a Christian church while the oblations were received; mentioned by Isidorus,A. D.595: “Offertoria quæ in sacrificiorum honore canuntur.” (2) Large plates, which, in the Christian churches of Gaul, served to collect the bread which the Christians had just laid on the altar. A beautiful specimen of such dishes, found in Siberia in 1867, and described by Rossi, is 6 inches in diameter, and weighs 1½ lbs. It has a relief inrepousséwork, consisting of a cross planted on a small globe studded with stars, beneath which issue the four rivers of Paradise; and on either side stand two nimbed angels, holding a rod in the left hand, and raising their right hand towards the cross in token of adoration. De Rossi regards this dish as the work of Byzantine goldsmiths of the 6th century. (3) At Rome, acolytes went in and out among the people, and collected the offerings in napkins of line linen or richer material called alsooffertoria.

Offertories, in Egyptian archæology, are offerings made to the gods, of various shapes; such as outstretched hands supporting a cup, or spoons of ivory, wood, or bronze, the handle of which is formed by a human figure.

Officina, R. A workshop, in contradistinction totaberna, a store, andapotheca, a shop; thus,officina ærariorumwas a goldsmith’s workshop;officina fullonum, a fuller’s establishment.

Fig. 499. Device of the Offuscati Academy.

Offuscati.One of the Italian literary academies. They bore for their device a bear, roused from his natural heaviness by the stings of bees, with the motto, “Stings (or points) will sharpen steel.” (Fig.499.)

Ogam, Celtic. The sacred writing of the Druids. (Cf.Ogham.)

Ogee ArchorContrasted ArchorMoulding, Arch. An arch or moulding described by means of four centres, so as to be alternately concave and convex. It was frequently employed in fifteenth-century monuments, and its constant recurrence in thelater Gothicorflamboyantarchitecture has given rise to its French name ofogival.

Ogham.A kind of shorthand writing or cipher in use among the ancient Irish. (S.)

Ogivale, Fr. A French architectural term of constant occurrence, applied to the architecture of the mediæval period in France, during which thepointed archwas used.

Ogive, Fr. Arch. Apointedarch;nottheOgee.

Ogivette, Arch. A small ogee.

Ogress, Her. A pellet or black roundle.

Oil Paintingwas introduced in Flanders by the brothers Van Eyck in 1410, and in Italy by Antonello da Messina in or about 1455.

OilletsorOylets. Loopholes.

Oils.The fixed oils used in painting arelinseed,walnut, andpoppy, purified and rendered drying by the addition oflitharge. They should be pale in colour, limpid, and transparent, and should dry quickly:nut oilin a few hours,linseedin a day, andpoppy oilin thirty-six to forty hours. The essential oils used in painting areturpentine, for diluting the pigments ground in oil, andspike, orlavender, for wax and enamel painting.

Oinerusis, Gr. (οἰν-ήρυσις). (SeeArystichos.)

Ointment-box, in Christian art, is the attribute of St. Mary Magdalene, St. Joseph of Arimathæa, and other saints.

Fig. 500. Covered Tazza; Faience of Oiron. In the Louvre.

Oiron, a small town in France (so named from the flocks of geese which circle round itOi-rondin winter), is the place where the fine faiences, usually called Henri II. ware, were made. “Here is France,” says M. Jacquemart, “in the 16th century in possession of a pottery, the discovery of which is attributed 200 years later to England.” There are only about fifty pieces known, five of which may be seen in the South Kensington Museum.

Okel, Egyp. A caravanserai. A large covered court surrounded by two stories of galleries, of which the lower is used as shops, &c., and the upper one as lodging-rooms.

Oldham.A coarse kind of cloth originated at Oldham in Norfolk,temp.Richard II.

Olibanum.A gum-resin used for incense.

Oliphant, A.S. An elephant; hence a hunting-horn of ivory.

Olive.A blue-grey colour; violet mixed with green.

Olive(-tree). (1) In Christian art, the emblem of peace and concord, and frequent on early Christian tombs in the catacombs, with or without the dove. (2) Arch. Its leaf was introduced into sculpture by the ancients, in wreaths or garlands. The Corinthian order is enriched witholive-leaves, as are almost all the antiques at Rome of this order. (3) R. Thecorona oleagina, an honorary wreath made of olive-leaves, was conferred by the Romans on soldiers and commanders through whose instrumentality a triumph had been obtained when they were not personally present in the action. (4) Gr. It was theolive-tree that Minerva caused to spring from the ground in the citadel at Athens. (5) The colour and grain of the wood, and of the root portion especially, are very beautiful, and valuable for decorative and cabinet-work.

Olivette.A Flemish name forpoppy oil.

Olivine.A variety ofchrysoliteof a dark green, commonly called bottle-green colour.

Olla, R. An earthenware vessel of very common make. It resembled our flower-pots, but had swelling sides, and was covered with a lid. It was used for cooking meat and vegetables and for preserving grapes (uva ollaria), and as a cinerary urn (olla ossuariaorcineraria). Hence—

Olla-podrida, Sp. A stew of meat and vegetables mixed, common in Spain. The word is used to describe any other incongruous mixture.

Ollarium, R. A niche in a sepulchral chamber, in which theolla ossuariawas placed. (SeeCinerarium, Fig.160.)

Olpê, Gr. (ὄλπη). A kind ofaryballoswith a curved handle, but no spout (originally a leather oil-flask).

Olympiad, Gr. (Ὀλυμπίας). The period of four years between two consecutive celebrations of the Olympic games. The first Olympiad beganB.C.776.

Olympic Games, Gr. Games instituted by Hercules in honour of Jupiter Olympius; they were the most ancient and celebrated in all Greece. They derived their name from Olympia, in Greece, where they were celebrated. They were finally suppressed by Theodosius,A. D.394.

Ombre.A kind of damask.

Ombros.The name for a particular quality ofmadder.

Omophagi, Gr. (ὠμο-φάγοι, sc.δαῖτες, i. e. flesh-eating banquets). Festivals held at Chio and Tenedos in honour of Bacchus.

Omophorion.(1) An article of female dress, worn on theshoulders. (2) A vestment of the Greek Church, consisting of a long woollen band with embroidered crosses. It is typical of the lost sheep borne home on the shoulders of the Shepherd.

Onager,Onagrus, R. An engine for hurling stones of great size.

OnicoloorNicolo. A variety of the onyx, with a deep-brown ground, on which is a band of bluish white, used for making cameos.

Onocentaurs.Fabulous animals, half man, half ass.

Onychomancy(onyx, a nail). Divination by means of the marks on the nails of the hands.

Onyx(ὄνυξ, a finger-nail). (1) A general name for the varieties of the agate which consist of alternate layers of white, brown, or black, greatly valued by the ancients for cameos. In the Christian symbolism the onyx typifies innocence and candour. (SeeOnicolo.) (2) The name has also been applied by the ancients to Oriental alabaster. (3) Onyx marble was a name given to Algerian marble from Oran, of which “pure white, brilliant red, golden yellow, and hues of green, with every variety of striation and flocculence, exist.” [See theBuilding News, xiv. 489.]

Opa,Opê, Gr. Arch. (ὀπή). A cavity in which a tie-beam (tignum) rests; whence the space included between twoὀπαὶortignawas calledmetopaorintertignum.

Opacity.Want of transparency.

Opaion, Gr. Arch. The panels on a ceiling formed by the intersection of its beams.

Opal.A semi-transparent stone, remarkable for the play of colours that it exhibits. Three varieties are, theoriental opal, called also thenobleopal and theharlequinopal, remarkable for its flashes of brilliant colours having a triangular disposition. The affection that the ancients entertained for this beautiful gem was unbounded. The Roman senator Nonnius preferred exile to parting with a brilliant opal the size of a filbert which Marc Antony coveted. Thefire opalis furnished principally by Mexico. Its colour, more pronounced than that of theorientalopal, and the carmine or vinous red tint of its fires, permit it to be easily recognized. Thecommon opaldisplays very little fire; its colour is milk-white, which, joined to a texture extremely homogeneous, renders it semi-transparent. [L. Dieulafait.]

Opal Glass, called also Milk-white Glass; prepared for globes to lamps, &c.

Opales,Opalia, R. Festivals of Ops, the wife of Saturn, which were held every year on the fourteenth of the calends of January (19th of December).

Opalescent.Having a play of colours like theopal.

Open-tide, O. E. The season between Epiphany and Ash-Wednesday, when marriages were publicly solemnized.

Opera.A lyrical drama set to music; originated at Florence in the 16th century. [ConsultDoni(passim),Arteaga Manfredini,Signorelli, &c.; alsoDr. Burney’s Tours and Correspondence, andGrimm’s Correspondence.]

Operculum, R. A cover for any kind of earthenware vessel.

Ophicleide(ὄφις, a serpent, andκλεὶς, a key). A wind instrument of brass or copper made in the form of a serpent. Generally, the bass of a military band.

Ophiomancy, Gr. Divination by snakes.

Ophiomorphous.Snake-shaped.

OphiteorOphiolite. Green porphyry orSerpentine.

Ophites, Chr. A sect which arose in the 2nd century in the Christian Church. They believed that the Serpent who tempted Eve was Christ himself. They are also calledSerpentinians. (S.)

Fig. 501. Opima Spolia. Trophy of Gallic Ensigns.

Opima Spolia, R. The “spoils of honour,” consisting of armour set up as a trophy and dedicated in the temple of Jupiter Feretrius at Rome. These were spoils taken from the chief of a hostile army, who had been killed by the hand of a Roman general. Plutarch asserts that thespolia opimawere actually taken only three times.

Opinicus, Her. A fabulous heraldic monster; a dragon before and a lion behind, with a camel’s tail.

Opisthodomos, Gr. (ὀπισθό-δομος). Latin,Posticum. A small chamber placed at the back of a temple, to which the priests alone had access.

Oporotheca, Gr. (ὀπωρο-θήκη). A storehouse for fruits.

Oppidan.At Eton College, a boy who is not a king’s scholar, and boards in the town.

Fig. 502. Oppidum and carceres of the circus of Caracalla.

Oppidum, R. A fortified town, and thence the mass of buildings occupying the extremity of a circus, in which were the stalls for the chariots and horses (carceres). Fig.502gives a representation of theoppidumin the circus of Caracalla.

Optical Correctionis a name given to the task of adapting art objects, or architectural proportions and ornaments, to the circumstances of distance or comparison in which they are to be exhibited. Belzoni observes that the heads of colossal Egyptian statues are proportionally larger than the lower members. (For numerous examples of this contrivance, see the article in theArchitectural Publication Society’s Dictionary.)

Optics(Gr.ὄπτομαι, to see). The science of the nature and properties of light; of its changes as it penetrates or is reflected or absorbed by bodies; of the structure of the eye, and the laws of vision; and of instruments in connexion with sight. It is thus closely connected with the science of colour, and the arts in general. The earliest treatise extant on this science is Euclid’sOptica et Catoptrica. (Cf.Dr. Smith’s Optics, &c.)

Optigraph.A telescope for copying landscapes. (SeeClaude Glass.)

Optostratum, R. (ὀπτὸς, brick, andστρωτὸν, strewn). A brick pavement, often arranged in a herring-boned pattern, as in theOpus Spicatum. (Fig.509.)

Opus Albarium.(SeeStucco.)

Fig. 503. Alexandrinum opus.

Opus Alexandrinum.A mosaic flooring much used by the Romans, consisting of geometric figures, and generally of only two kinds of tessera, red and black on a white ground. (SeeMusivum Opus.)

Opus Araneum(spider-work). A kind of embroidery, 13th century; modern “guipure d’art.”

Opus Consutum.Appliqué work in embroidery. (SeeAppliqué.)

Opus Filatorium.A kind of embroidery, 14th century; modern “filet brodé.”

Opus Græcum, R. Inlaid pavement. (SeeMusivum Opus.)

Opus Incertum, R. A Roman method of building; the construction of walls of very small rough stones, not laid in courses, but held together by the mortar.

Fig. 504. Pseud-iso-domum opus, with a course of opus insertum.

Opus Insertum, R. A Roman method of building, of courses of flat tiles, the most durable of all. Such courses were also introduced in the other kinds of stone and brick walls, in which they served as bond-courses, and also kept the damp from rising from the ground.

Fig. 505. Musivum opus.

Opus Musivum.Mosaic. (SeeMusivum.)

Opus Pectineum(comb-wrought). Woven work imitating embroidery.

Opus Phrygianum, R. Fine embroidery. (SeeOrphrey.)

Opus Plumarium(feather-stitch). Embroidery of which the stitches overlap one another like the feathers of a bird.

Fig. 506. Pseud-iso-domum opus.

Opus Pseud-iso-domum, Gr. (lit.quasi-equalstructure). A Greek method of building in which the courses are (1) parallel and unequal, but regular among themselves, as in Fig.506; or (2) irregular altogether, as in the Gate of Lions at Mycenæ, Fig.507(or in Fig.504).

Fig. 507. Gate of Lions at Mycenæ. Pseud-iso-domum opus.

Opus Pulvinarium(cushion-style). Embroidery like modern Berlin work, generally used for cushions.

Fig. 508. Structura reticulata.

Opus Reticulatum, R. A Roman method of construction, with an ornamental surface resembling the meshes of anet.

Fig. 509. Spicatum opus.

Opus Spicatum, R. Herring-bone masonry.

Or, Her. The metal gold, expressed in engraving by small dots, as on Fig.375.

Or basané, Fr. Leather stamped in gold, used as hangings in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Ora, R. The cable which fastened the stern of a ship to the shore, while theAncoralekept her head out to sea.

Ora.An old Saxon coin of 16 or 20 pence in value.

Orange.The colour formed by the mixture of 5 parts of red and 3 parts of yellow. It is the complementary of blue. The nearest pigment iscadmium yellow.

Orange Chrome.A sub-chromate of lead, which yields a beautiful orange pigment.

Orange Madder lake.(SeeMadder.)

Orange Minium.(SeeMinium.)

Orange Vermilion.A durable pigment for oil and water-colours, in colour resemblingred lead.

Orange Yellow.A yellow inclining to red, represented by molybdate of lead. (Ansted,Elementary Course.)

Orange tree.In Christian art, symbol of the “Heavenly Bride.”

Oranti, It. The name given to certain male and female figures found in the catacomb frescoes at Rome, represented with the hands spread in the Eastern attitude of prayer.

Orarium, R. A scarf or handkerchief thrown to the crowd in a circus, to wave to the chariot-drivers. In Christian archæology, (1) A scarf affixed to the pastoral staff; as early as the 13th century. (2) The stole. (3) The border of an ecclesiastical vestment. (Planché.) (SeeStole,Sudarium.)

Orb.One of the emblems of sovereignty with which kings are solemnly invested at their coronation. It is a globe surmounted by a cross, and is held in the palm of the left hand. In Art it is a common attribute of the Infant Saviour.

Orca, Gr. and R. (ὄρκηorὕρχα). An earthenware vessel of large size, but smaller than the amphora; it was used for holding salted fish. The diminutive isorcula; the modern Italianorcio.

Orchestra, Gr. and R. (ὀρχήστρα, i. e. dancing-place). The lowest part of the Greek and Roman theatres; usually occupied by the chorus. It contained an altar, on which sacrifices to Bacchus were sometimes made.

Orchestrino.A modern musical instrument invented by Poulleau. It was shaped like a pianoforte with similar finger-keys, and the sounds were produced by the friction of a bow upon strings.

Orchestrion.A modern portable organ, invented by the Abbé Vogler about 1789. A similarly-named instrument invented in 1796 by Kunz, a Bohemian, consisted of a pianoforte combined with some organ-stops.

Orcula.Diminutive oforca.

Order.In classical architecture, a column entire; i. e. base, shaft, capital, and entablature. There are usually said to be fiveorders: the Tuscan, Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, and Composite.

Orders of Knighthood.(SeeKnighthood.)

Ordinary, Her. An early principal charge of a simple character.

Oread.A mountain-nymph.

Oreæ, R. (ora, the mouth). A snaffle-bit for horses.

Oreiller, Her. A cushion or pillow.

Oreillettes, Fr. Ear-pieces on helmets; 15th and 16th centuries.

Orfrays.The gold, silver, or silk embroidery on rich garments, chiefly sacerdotal ornaments. The term has two derivations; some derive it fromaurum Phrygium, because the Phrygians, who were excellent embroiderers, were considered to have invented the style; others take it to be fromaurum fractum(broken). In mediæval Latin the term for orfrays wasaurifrigia,aurifrisa,aurifrisus, andaurifrixus.

Fig. 510. Regals or Portable Organ.

Organ.Organs are said to have been first introduced into France,A. D.289, from Greece. A large organ existed in Westminster Abbey in the 10th century. Portable organs called alsoRegalswere also common. The antique organs had no key-boards, which were introduced in the 11th century, simultaneously with the invention of the musicalstave. (Cf.Hydraula.) TheRegalsor portable organ is an attribute of St. Cecilia. (Fig.510.)

Organdi.A kind of muslin.

Organistrum, O. E. A musical instrument, resembling the modern hurdy-gurdy, played by two persons, of whom one turned the handle, while the other played the keys.

Organolyricon.A musical instrument invented in Paris in 1810 by M. de St. Pern. It consists of a pianoforte with two rows of keys, and contains twelve different wind instruments, viz. three flutes, an oboe, a clarionet, a bassoon, horns, trumpet, and fife.

Organzine.Thrown silk of a very fine texture. (S.)

Orgies, Gr. (ὄργια). Festivals of Bacchus at which all who were present were carried away by frenzy. The same term was also used to denote the festivals of Ceres and those of theCabiri.

Orgues, Fr. Med. (1) Pieces of timber, pointed and shod with iron, hung like a portcullis over a gateway, to be let down in case of attack. (2) An arrangement of gun-barrels, the precursor of the mitrailleuse. (S.)

Orgyia(fromὀρέγω, to extend). A Greek measure of length, representing the distance from end to end of theoutstretchedarms, or the height of the human figure. It was equal to four cubits or six feet, and was one-hundredth of a stadium.

Orichalcum(fromὄροςandχαλκὸς, i. e.mountain bronze). A metallic compound, akin to copper and bronze, which was highly prized by the ancients. It was probablybrass.

OrielorOriole, Chr. (oriolum, a little entrance). A projecting angular window, generally triangular or pentagonal in shape. A large bay or recessed window in a church or in an apartment. The word has been used in many senses, with the general meaning of a recess within or a projection from a building. A small oratory.

Orientation, Chr. The arrangement of a church by which a worshipper faces theeastat prayers.

Oriflamme.The ancient royal banner of France, coloured purple-azure and gold. It was split into five points, and sometimes bore upon it asaltirewavy, from the centre of which golden rays diverged.

Orillon, Fr. A mass of earth lined with a wall on the shoulder of a bastion, for the protection of a gun.

Fig. 511. Orle or crest-wreath.

Orle.(1) Arch. A fillet or listel placed beneath the ovolo of a capital. (2) In Heraldry, a subordinary formed of a border of a shield which is charged upon another and a larger shield. (3) The wreath or torse which encircled the crest, composed ordinarily of silk of two colours twisted together, and representing the principal metal and tincture in the wearer’s armorial bearings. (Planché.)

Orleans.A cloth made of worsted and cotton.

Orlo.A Spanish musical instrument.

Orlop-deckof a ship. That over the hold, on which the cables are stowed.

Ormolu, Fr. (or, gold, andmoulu, ground). 72·43 copper, 25·2 zinc, and 2·65 tin; used for cheap jewellery, &c.Mosaic gold, another name for such a metal, is composed of 65 copper and 35 zinc.

Ormolu Varnish.A copper, bronze, or imitation-gold varnish.

Ornithon, R. (ὀρνιθών). A poultry-yard or aviary.

Orpharion, O. E. A kind of lute. (Halliwell.)

Orpheon.A musical instrument.

Orphrey.An old English word for gold embroidery, from the Latinauriphrygium. (SeeOrfrays.)

Orpiment(Lat.auripigmentum; Ang.king’s yellow). A yellow pigment of arsenic with sulphur, or, when the arsenic predominates, an orange colour. The finest native orpiment comes from Persia, and is calledgolden orpiment.

Orpin, O. E., contraction ofOrpiment. Yellow arsenic.

Orrery.A machine for representing in a model the motions and relative positions of the heavenly bodies.

OrriceorOrris. A peculiar pattern in which gold or silver lace is worked. The edges are ornamented with conical figures, placed at equal distances, with spots between them.

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