tessera noun. ['tɛs(ǝ)rǝ] Pl. -rae [-ri:]. M17.
[Latin from Greek, neut. of tesseres var. of tessares four.]
1. a. Classical Antiquities. A small quadrilateral tablet of wood, bone, etc., used as a token, tally, ticket, etc. M17.
b. fig. A distinguishing sign or token; a watchword. M17.
■ John Owen Making subjection to the pope..the tessera and rule of all church communion.
2. A small square block of marble, glass, tile, etc., used in mosaic. L18.
Times The workmen had to learn to set the tesserae, one by one.., into the cement.
3. Zoology. Each of the plates of an armadillo's carapace. E20.

■ tesserate ['tɛs(ǝ)rǝt] adjective (rare) = TESSELLATED 2 E18.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲