tessera
oxford
views updated May 29 2018tes·ser·a / ˈtesərə/ •
n. (pl. tes·se·rae / ˈtesərē/ ) a small block of stone, tile, glass, or other material used in the construction of a mosaic. ∎ (in ancient Greece and Rome) a small tablet of wood or bone used as a token.DERIVATIVES: tes·ser·al / -rəl/ adj.
The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English
tessera
oxford
views updated Jun 27 2018tessera (pl. tesserae). One of a great number of small square (almost cubical) pieces of glass, marble, pottery, stone, tile, etc., called in the singular
abaculus,
abaciscus, or, if very small,
tessella, embedded in mortar forming a
mosaic.
A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture JAMES STEVENS CURL
tessera
oxford
views updated May 29 2018tessera small quadrilateral tablet, esp. as used in mosaic; (hist.) square tablet on which watchword, etc., was written; hence (gen.) symbol, token. XVII. — L. — Gr.
téssera, n. of
tésseres, Ionic var- of
téssares FOUR.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD
