bucranium

noun

bu·​cra·​ni·​um
byüˈkrānēəm
variants or less commonly bucrane
(ˈ)byü¦krān
plural bucrania
byüˈkrānēə
 also bucranes
: a sculptured ornament (as on a Roman Ionic or Corinthian frieze) composed of an ox skull adorned with ribbons or garlands

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek boukranion ox head, from bous ox, head of cattle + kranion skull

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Dictionary Entries Near bucranium

Bucorvus

bucranium

bud

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Cite this Entry

“Bucranium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bucranium. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.

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