escarbuncle

English

Etymology

Old French escharboncle, see Modern French escaboucle.

Noun

escarbuncle (plural escarbuncles)

1. (archaic) A carbuncle (gemstone).
   • 1922, E[ric] R[ücker] Eddison, The Worm Ouroboros‎^[1], London: Jonathan Cape, page 3:

     To give light to the presence chamber were seven escarbuncles, great as pumpkins, hung in order down the length of it, and nine fair moonstones standing in order on silver pedestals between the pillars on the dais.

2. (heraldry) A carbuncle (heraldic charge).

References

• “escarbuncle”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.