bucranium

[byoo-krey-nee-uh m] /byuˈkreɪ ni əm/

noun, plural bucrania

[byoo-krey-nee-uh] /byuˈkreɪ ni ə/ (Show IPA)

(in classical architecture) an ornament, especially on a frieze, having the form of the skull of an ox.

Also, bucrane

[byoo-kreyn] /byuˈkreɪn/ (Show IPA).

Origin of bucranium

Late Latin

Greek

1850-1855

1850-55; < Late Latin būcrānium < Greek boukrā́ni(on) an ox-head, equivalent to Greek bou- (stem of boûs) ox + krāníon cranium

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2016.
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