Dictionary

rouleau en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ɹuːˈləʊ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ɹuˈloʊ/ (General-American)

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *Hreth₂- Proto-Indo-European *Hróth₂eh₂der. Proto-Italic *rotā Latin rota Proto-Indo-European *-lós Proto-Indo-European *-elós Proto-Italic *-elos Latin -ulus Latin rotulader. Latin rotulāre Old French roeler French rouler ▲ Proto-Italic *-elos Latin -lus Latin -ellus Old French -el Middle French -eau French -eau French rouleaubor. English rouleau Borrowed from French rouleau.

Meanings

1. A little roll; a roll of coins put up in paper, or something resembling such a roll.
   • Early in the morning, the rouleau of gold was left at my door in a little box, with my name on the outside. 1859, Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities:
   • We always judge of others by ourselves; and his idea of Cupid's quiver is a rouleau. 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “Lady Marchmont to Sir Jasper Meredith. Courtiers.”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 260:
   • […] he liked your philosophy, and hopes you'll accept of this, which from its weight I take to be a little rouleau of guineas. 1863, Sheridan Le Fanu, The House by the Churchyard:
2. A decorative technique that involves creating patterns with piping, cording or bias tape. A rouleau loop uses the same cord or piping as a way of fastening buttons, most notably down the back of bridal gowns.
   • rouleau loop
   • rouleau turner
3. (in-plural) A stack of aggregated red blood cells, as seen in certain haematological and other diseases.
4. One of a bundle of fascines to cover besiegers.

Forms