A growing assortment of words and definitions used in the Early Modern era. See the Guide for more information.
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Word
Definition
Angelot
(1) A musical instrument, like a lute, used in the 17th century and in Robert Browning's SORDELLO (1863). (2) a gold coin of France, minted by Louis IX; also by the English King Henry VI in Paris. It bore a representation of St. Michael subduing a dragon. From French angelot, diminutive of Latin angelus, angel; Greek aggelos, messenger (the angels were the messengers of God). (3) a small cheese, first made in Normandy, stamped with the coin, the angelot. Various recipes exist for the making of angelots, angellet . . . and within a quarter of a year they will be ready to eat.
Filemot
The color of a dead leaf. The word is a 17th century corruption of French feuille morte, dead leaf. Also in the forms feuillemort, fillemort, foliomort, philemort, philamot. Robert Browning in SORDELLO (1840) says: Let Vidal change . . . His murrey-coloured robe for philamot, And crop his hair.
Loricate
To put a protective coating on; e.g., military armor, or clay on a chemical retort (18th century) "before it is set over a naked fire." Latin loricare, loricatus, to clothe in mail; lorica, a leather cuirass or corselet of thongs; lorum (vlorum) , a leather strap or strip. Hence also in English, loric (Robert Browning, 1855) , a cuirass, more often lorica; lorum, lore, a thong, a rein. By way of Late Latin and old French, lorain came into English meaning the straps of a horse's harness, often jewelled or studded with metal. Hence (French lorenier, loremier) from the 12th to the 19th century, English lorimer, maker of mountings for horses' bridles, of bits and other small iron ware; a worker of wrought iron. Hence lorication (by error, occasionally, lorification), covering with a protective coat.
