charbocle

1) An early spelling of carbuncle which derives from the Latin for a small piece of coal and was used in the Middle Ages of a fiery red precious stone, a ruby.

It gave rise to a by-name: a.1272 Cecilia Charbocle, Long Drax and this lies behind the minor place-name Charbokleland, recorded in Drax by Smith in 1537. It was also used figuratively of something 'resplendent': 1552 One altar-cloth of charbuncles & 3 altar cloths of lining, Hemingbrough.

dates 1272 1537 1552

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