cresset en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈkɹes.ət/ (New-Zealand)
- /ˈkɹes.ɪt/ (Australia, Received-Pronunciation)
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈkɾɛ(ː)s.ɪʈ/ (India)
- krĕs′ĭt
- /ˈkɹɛs.ɪt/ (Canada, General-American, Received-Pronunciation, Scotland)
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English cresset, from Old French crasset, cresset (“sort of lamp or torch”); perhaps of Old Dutch or Old High German origin, and akin to English cruse and/or French creuset (“crucible”), the latter being from Gallo-Roman Vulgar Latin *croceolus.
Meanings
-
(historical) A metal cage, basket or cup with fire in it, used for various purposes: ▸ A metal cup, suspended from or attached to the top of a pole and filled with burning pitch etc., used as portable illumination.
And as a Cresset true that darts its length ¶ Of beamy lustre from a tower of strength;
a. 1851, William Wordsworth, “Stanzas suggested in a Steam-boat off St. Bees’ Heads, on the coast of Cumberland”, in Henry [Hope] Reed, editor, The Complete Poetical Works of William Wordsworth, Philadelphia, Pa.: Hayes & Zell, […], published 1860, →OCLC, stanza 5, page 316, column 2:Of Starry Lamps and blazing Creſſets fed ¶ With Naphtha and Aſphaltus yeilded light
1667, John Milton, “Book I”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC, signature [C4], verso, lines 728–729:
-
A metal cage, basket or cup with fire in it, used for various purposes: ▸ A small furnace or iron cage to hold fire for charring the inside of a cask, and making the staves flexible.
1805–1814, Dante Alighieri, Henry Francis Cary (translator), The Divine Comedy, "Inferno", Canto VIII We reach'd the lofty turret's base, our eyes / its height ascended, where we mark'd uphung / two cressets and another saw from far
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| cressets | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Relateds
Translations (5)
es antorcha (iron cage to hold fire) · pl kaganek (iron cage to hold fire) · pl kaganiec (metal cup filled with pitch) · pl kaganiec (iron cage to hold fire) · enm cresset (metal cup filled with pitch)