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

Cuker, O. E. Part of a woman’s horned head-dress, “furred with a cat’s skin.”

Culcita, R. A mattress of horsehair, wool, wadding, or feathers.

Culettes, Fr. Plates of armour protecting the back, from the waist to the saddle.

Culeus or Culleus, R. The largest liquid measure of capacity used by the Romans, containing 20 amphoræ, or about 119 gallons. The same name was also applied to a very large sack, of skin or leather, used for oil or wine. It was in the culei that parricides were sewed up.

Culigna, R. A vessel for holding wine. It was a kind of amphora of a broader form, its width exceeding its height.

Culina, R. A kitchen.

Cullis, Arch. Same as Coulisse (q.v.).

Culme, O. E. The summit.

Cultellus, R. (dimin. of Culter, q.v.). A knife. Cultellus ligneus, a wedge of wood.

Culter or Culta, R. A knife. Culter coquinaris was a kitchen-knife; culter venatorius, a hunting-knife; culter tonsorius, a razor; culter vinitorius, or falx vinitoria, a vine-dresser’s pruning knife. The term denoted as well (1) the knife with which the officiating priest cut the victim’s throat; (2) a knife for carving, also called cultellus; (3) the coulter of a plough fixed in front of the plough-share.