Umbo (Gr. ὀμφαλός). (1) The boss of a shield, often sharp and projecting so as to form an offensive weapon in itself. (2) A bunch formed by the folds of the toga tacked in to the belt across the chest.
Umbræ, R. The shades of the departed; represented in the forms in which they abandoned life. Those killed in battle, mutilated, &c.
Umbrellas. Anglo-Saxon manuscripts sometimes represent a servant holding an umbrella over the head of his master. In the sculptures of ancient Egypt and Assyria they are represented borne by the attendants on a king. The Greek and Roman ladies used parasols in all respects resembling those of modern times. In the Panathenaic procession the daughters of foreign settlers in Athens had to carry parasols over the heads of the Athenian maidens taking part in the procession. They were substituted later on by broad hats, the Roman Petasus and the Greek Tholia. In the Siamese empire an umbrella is the emblem of the royal dignity.
Fig. 672. Umbril.
Umbrere, Umbril. In mediæval armour, a projection on a helmet acting as a guard to the eyes.
Umbril. (See Umbrere.)
Uncia (Gr. οὐγκία, Angl. ounce). The unit of measurement. The twelfth part of anything. In currency, a copper coin; the twelfth part of an As. Its value was expressed on the obverse and reverse by one ball; in lineal measurement, the twelfth of a foot, whence our inch; in square measure, the twelfth of a jugerum; of liquids, the twelfth of a sextarius; in weight, the twelfth of a pound (libra).
Uncial Letters. When writing on papyrus or vellum became common, many of the straight lines of the capitals, in that kind of writing, gradually acquired a curved form. From the 6th to the 8th, or even 10th century, these uncials, or partly rounded capitals, prevail in illuminated MSS. (See also Minuscule, Semi-uncials.)
Uncus, R. (ὄγκος). A hook such as (1) that with which the corpses of gladiators were dragged out of the arena; or those of criminals from the carnificina where they were executed. (2) The fluke of an anchor, &c.