Ear-rings (Lat. inaures, Gr. ἐνώτια) were a common ornament for ladies in Greece and Rome, and among the early Saxons: they were worn by men during the reigns of Elizabeth and James I.
Earth Tables, Arch. The projecting course of stones in a wall, immediately above the surface of the ground, now called the plinth. (Parker.)
Earthenware. (See Pottery.)
Easel (from the German esel, an ass). A frame with movable rest for resting pictures on.
Easel-picture. A small portable picture.
Easter, Chr. (A.S. eastre). From the goddess “Eostur,” whose festival fell in April. The Latin name “Paschal” refers to the Jewish feast of the Passover. The Paschal season originally extended over fifteen days, from Palm Sunday to Low Sunday. (See Smith and Cheetham’s Dict. of Christian Ant.)
Eaves (A.S. efese, the edge). The overhanging “edge” of the roof of a house.
Ebénistes, Fr. Workers in fine cabinet-making.
Ebony. A heavy, hard, black wood, obtained from the Diospyrus ebenus. Ebony and other exotic woods came into general use in Europe from the end of the 17th century—subsequently to 1695, when the Dutch settled in Ceylon. The black ebony is the most valuable, but there are green and yellow varieties. Old carved ebony furniture found in English houses dates generally from the early years of the Dutch occupation of Ceylon.
Eburnean. Made of ivory.