bezant
Americannoun
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Also bezzant the gold solidus of the Byzantine Empire, widely circulated in the Middle Ages.
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Also byzant (in Romanesque architecture) any of a number of disklike ornaments, similar in form to the classical patera, used especially on the faces of archivolts.
noun
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a medieval Byzantine gold coin
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architect an ornament in the form of a flat disc
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heraldry a small gold circle
Etymology
Origin of bezant
1150–1200; Middle English besant < Old French < Latin byzantius (nummus) “Byzantine (coin)”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Carlyon of Cornwall bore sable, between three towers ... a bezant.
From The Curiosities of Heraldry by Mark Antony Lower
He went to market to buy sheep, and had two for a bezant.
From Italian Popular Tales by Thomas Frederick Crane
Wherefore the liang in relation to gold would be worth 120_d._ or 10_s._, a little over the Venetian ducat and somewhat less than the bezant or dínár.
From The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 1 by Henry Yule
After they had used up everything they could find, a mere piece of bread cost a bezant.
From The Deeds of God Through the Franks by Robert Levine
She made no reply, but took from a pocket a bezant, and contrived to throw its yellow gleam in the sentinel's eyes.
From The Prince of India — Volume 02 by Lewis Wallace
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