Escarbuncle

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Escarbuncle \Es*car"bun*cle\, n. [OF. escarbuncle, F.
     escaboucle.] (Her.)
     See {Carbuncle}, 3.
     [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:



  Carbuncle \Car"bun*cle\, n. [L. carbunculus a little coal, a
     bright kind of precious stone, a kind of tumor, dim. of carbo
     coal: cf. F. carboncle. See {Carbon}.]
     [1913 Webster]
     1. (Min.) A beautiful gem of a deep red color (with a mixture
        of scarlet) called by the Greeks anthrax; found in the
        East Indies. When held up to the sun, it loses its deep
        tinge, and becomes of the color of burning coal. The name
        belongs for the most part to ruby sapphire, though it has
        been also given to red spinel and garnet.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Med.) A very painful acute local inflammation of the
        subcutaneous tissue, esp. of the trunk or back of the
        neck, characterized by brawny hardness of the affected
        parts, sloughing of the skin and deeper tissues, and
        marked constitutional depression. It differs from a boil
        in size, tendency to spread, and the absence of a central
        core, and is frequently fatal. It is also called
        {anthrax}.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (Her.) A charge or bearing supposed to represent the
        precious stone. It has eight scepters or staves radiating
        from a common center. Called also {escarbuncle}.
        [1913 Webster]