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Webster 1913 Edition


Cestus

Ces′tus

,
Noun.
[L.
cestus
girdle, Gr. [GREEK], lit., stitched, embroidered.]
1.
(Antiq.)
A girdle; particularly that of Aphrodite (or Venus) which gave the wearer the power of exciting love.
2.
(Zool.)
A genus of Ctenophora. The typical species (
Cestus Veneris
) is remarkable for its brilliant iridescent colors, and its long, girdlelike form.

Ces′tus

,
Noun.
[L.
caestus
, and
cestus
.]
(Antiq.)
A covering for the hands of boxers, made of leather bands, and often loaded with lead or iron.

Webster 1828 Edition


Cestus

CESTUS

,
Noun.
The girdle of Venus, or marriage-girdle, among the Greeks and Romans.

Definition 2024


cestus

cestus

English

A depiction of a cestus (fighting glove)

Noun

cestus (plural cestuses or cestus or cesti)

  1. A leather fighting glove, frequently weighted with metal.
    • 1994 August, Carl Brown, Nunchucks and Throwing Stars in Your State? A State-byState Survey of Martial Arts Weapons Laws, Black Belt, page 81,
      It is against Massachusetts law to carry on your person or in a vehicle any stiletto, dagger, ballistic knife, dirk knife, doubl-edged knife, switchblade knife, slungshot, blowgun, blackjack, metallic knuckles, nunchaku (also referred to as “klackers” or “kung fu sticks” in Massachusetts law), shuriken or similar pointed star-like objects intended to injure a person when thrown, armband with metallic spikes, points or studs, cestus weighted with metal or other substance and worn on the hand, manriki gusari or similar length of chain with weighted ends, or billy club.
    • 2011, James Edward Raggi, IV, Lamentations of the Flame Princess: Weird Fantasy Role-Playing (Grindhouse Edition), Rules Book, ISBN 9525904288, page 25:
      'Cestus': This includes all sorts of fist wrappings and brass knuckle weapon types.

Etymology 2

From Latin cestus.

Noun

cestus (plural cesti)

  1. (obsolete) A girdle, especially that of Aphrodite (or Venus) which gave the wearer the power to excite love.

See also


Latin

Etymology 1

From Ancient Greek κεστός (kestós, stitched, embroidered)

Noun

cestus m (genitive cestī); second declension

  1. a girdle, tie, band or strap worn around the upper body, directly under the breast
  2. the girdle of Aphrodite or Venus
Inflection

Second declension.

Case Singular Plural
nominative cestus cestī
genitive cestī cestōrum
dative cestō cestīs
accusative cestum cestōs
ablative cestō cestīs
vocative ceste cestī

Etymology 2

Variant of caestus, from caedō (I cut in pieces)

Noun

cestus m (genitive cestūs); fourth declension

  1. boxing glove; a strip of leather, weighted with iron or lead, tied to a boxer's hands
Inflection

Fourth declension.

Case Singular Plural
nominative cestus cestūs
genitive cestūs cestuum
dative cestuī cestibus
accusative cestum cestūs
ablative cestū cestibus
vocative cestus cestūs

References