Lithostrotum, R. (λιθό-στρωτον). The pavement of a Roman road, and thence any ornamental pavement, mosaic, incrusted marble, coloured inlaid-work, &c.
Litmus or Lacmus. The red, violet, and blue colours known as archil, cudbear, and litmus, are derived from certain lichens; litmus from the roccella tinctoria.
Liturgy (λειτουργός). The printed formulary according to which the public services in a church are performed.
Lituus, R. (an Etruscan word, signifying crooked). (1) A brass trumpet formed of a long, straight tube, but curved and opening out wide at the end like a tobacco-pipe. The tuba was straight, the cornu spiral. (2) An augur’s staff curved into the form of a crook, with which they divided the expanse of the sky into regions in their divinations.
Livery (Fr. livrée). Literally, the distribution; that is to say, of clothes to be worn by the servants of palaces, &c. (See Badges.)
Livery Colours. In the Middle Ages all great houses had their own livery colours. Thus those of the House of York were blue and crimson, those of the House of Lancaster white and blue, of the House of Tudor white and green, of the House of Stuart scarlet and gold.
Loaves, in Christian art, are the emblems of charity to the poor; the attribute of St. Philip the Apostle and other saints.
Lobe (of an arch), Fr.; Anglicé foil; e. g. a trefoil arch is arc trilobé.
Local Colour is the real fundamental colour of an object, considered apart from all accidental variations of light and reflexion.
Locellus, R. A box or casket; this term is a diminutive of Loculus.