An Illustrated Dictionary of Words used in Art and Archaeology / Explaining terms frequently used in works on architecture, arms, bronzes, Christian art, colour, costume, decoration, devices, emblems, heraldry, lace, personal ornaments, pottery, painting, sculpture, &c., with their derivations.

by John W. Mollett

Chevesaile, Old Fr. A necklace.

Chevetaine, Old Fr. A captain; hence the mediæval cheuptanus.

Chevron. (1) Arch. One of the mouldings frequently used in Norman architecture, usually called zigzag (q.v.). (2) A badge on the coatsleeve of a non-commissioned officer. (3) Her. One of the ordinaries; the lower half of a Saltire (q.v.).

Chevronel, Her. A diminutive of the Chevron, of half the size.

Chevroter, Fr. A musical term: “to skip, quiver, to sing with uncertain tone, after the manner of goats,” alla vibrato.

Chiaroscuro, It. (chiaro, light, and oscuro, dark). Light and shade.

Chiave of Pavia. One of the Italian literary academies, composed entirely of noble and illustrious persons, who wore a golden key suspended round the neck, and had for a motto, Clauditur et aperitur liberis, and the text from Rev. iii. 7.

Chica. A dance popular in Spanish South America, of a jig-like character; the origin of the Fandango. (See Chaconne.)

Chief, Her. One of the ordinaries; the chief bounded by a horizontal line contains the uppermost third of the field of a shield. In chief, arranged horizontally across the upper part of the field.

Childermas, O. E. Innocents’ Day.