flabellum

[fluh-bel-uhm]

noun

plural

flabella 

1. a fan, especially one used in religious ceremonies.

2. a fan-shaped part.

flabellum

/ fləˈbɛləm /

noun

1. a fan-shaped organ or part, such as the tip of the proboscis of a honeybee

2. RC Church a large ceremonial fan

Word History and Origins

Origin of flabellum¹

1865–70; < Latin flābellum fan, diminutive of flābra breezes, equivalent to flā ( re ) to blow ² + -bra, plural of -brum noun suffix of means; castellum for formation

Word History and Origins

Origin of flabellum¹

C19: from Latin: small fan, from flābra breezes, from flāre to blow

Example Sentences

Hand in mine, she showed me her collection of silver, gold, and ivory fans, fans from Egypt, Greece and India, arranged on her walls, some open, some in cases, flabellum with bone handles, Venetian lace fans, tomb fans with gold-encrusted ribs, a Greek fan like an acanthus leaf.

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Ventilā′brum, flabellum; Ventilā′tion, act or art of ventilating: state of being ventilated: free exposure to air: supply of air: act of examining and making public: public exposure.—adj.

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Rhīpid′ion, in the Greek Church, the eucharistic fan or flabellum.

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Muscatō′rium, a flabellum.—Musc� volitantes, ocular spectra like floating black spots before the eyes.

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Ventilabrum and flabellum are names under which ecclesiastical fans are mentioned in old inventories.

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