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

Fig. 567. Small Ivory Pyx. Ninth Century (?).

Pyx. The word in its earliest meaning included any small box or case, and often in the Middle Ages it contained relics. Thus in the Durham treasury there was “a tooth of St. Gengulphus, good for the falling sickness, in a small ivory pyx.” The pyx used for the sacrament was usually ornamented with religious subjects, other than the incidents of the lives of saints. (Fig. [567].)

Pyxis, Gr. and R. (πυξὶς, lit. a box-wood box). A casket, trinket-box, or jewel-case.

Q.

Many Old English words are indifferently spelt with qu, ch, and c; such as quire, choir; quoif, coif, &c.

Quadra, R. Generally, any square or rectangular object; such as a table, plinth, or abacus.

Quadragesima, Chr. Lent is so called, because it has forty days.

Quadrans, R. (a fourth part). A small bronze coin worth the quarter of an as, or about a farthing.

Quadrant. An instrument for measuring celestial altitudes; superseded by the Circle. (See Sextant.) (Consult Lalande, Astronomie, § 2311, &c., 3me edition).