flabellum

American  

[fluh-bel-uhm] / fləˈbɛl əm /

noun

• flabella
  plural

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

2. a fan-shaped part.

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flabellum British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• flabella
  plural

Etymology

Origin of flabellum

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

flabellum flabella

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

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various

In some instances it is depicted as a flabellum, a fan of palm-leaves or coloured feathers fixed on a long handle, resembling those now carried behind the Pope in processions.

From Umbrellas and Their History by Sangster, William

The name flagellum, indicating something as unstable as a breeze, is derived from flatus, by the change of a letter, just as in the case of the word flabellum, which means fly fan.

From Roman Farm Management The Treatises of Cato and Varro by Harrison, Fairfax

Fl, The flabellum which becomes the epipodite of higher forms.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 6 "Armour Plates" to "Arundel, Earls of" by Various

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.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various

The two enormous, semicircular flabella or ostrich fans were also omitted.

From Time Magazine Archive

Prelates held a damask canopy over the Holy Father's head and stirred the warm air about him with ostrich-plumed flabella.

From Time Magazine Archive