virgulan.
/ˈvəːɡjʊlə/ 1. Zoology. A small rod-like growth or formation:† a. One of the spines of a ray. Obsolete.
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the world > animals > fish > subclass Elasmobranchii > order Hypotremata > [noun] > family Rajidae > member of family Rajidae (ray) > part of
virgula1661
mermaid's purse1700
sea purse1836
1661 R. Lovell Πανζωορυκτολογια, sive Panzoologicomineralogia Isagoge sig. B5v They [sc. rays] take their prey, by hiding themselves in the mudde and putting out their virgulæ, and so alluring the small fishes, comming to them as weeds.
b. The rod-like axis of a graptolite.
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the world > animals > invertebrates > zoophyte > [noun] > fossil zoophyte > of genus Graptolites > rod-like axis of
virgula1907
1907 Fossil Invertebr. Anim. Brit. Mus. 47 The colony acquired a median supporting rod or virgula; this ended often in a disk.
2. † a. virgula divina or divinatoria, a divining- or dowsing-rod. Obsolete.
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the world > the supernatural > the paranormal > [noun] > detection of radiation > detecting subterraneous springs, etc. > rhabdomancy > divining-rod
rod1617
Moses' rod1646
divining-wand1656
virgula divina or divinatoria1656
Mosaical roda1681
dowsing-rod1692
divining-stick1712
waggers1747
divining-rod1751
mineral rod1797
fork1886
1656 A. Cowley To Mr. Hobs in Pindaric Odes Note 28 Virgula Divina [see divining n. 2].
1669 J. Worlidge Systema Agriculturæ vi. §3. 80 It is the onely Plant for the Virgula Divina, for the discovery of Mines.
1674 T. Blount Glossographia (ed. 4) Virgula divinatoria, is a Rod of Hazel, wherewith Miners pretend to discover where the Ores of Metalls lie.
1692 J. Locke Some Considerations Lowering Interest 127 Not of the nature of the Deusing-rod, or Virgula Divina, able to discover Mines of Gold and Silver.
b. = rod n.1 9b.
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the world > relative properties > number > mathematical instruments > [noun] > arithmetical instrument
mesograph1579
mesolabe1579
quipu1581
rods1618
Napier's bones1647
Napier's rods1678
reckoner1757
counter1803
adding machine1822
operameter1830
virgulaa1831
adder1856
computer1869
arithmometer1876
perforation gauge1882
Cuisenaire rod1954
number line1964
number cruncher1966
cruncher1971
a1831 G. Peacock Arithm. in Encycl. Metrop. (1845) I. 411 Of this description are the virgulæ, or rods of Napier, which were formerly much celebrated and very generally used.
3.
a. = virgule n. 1. rare.
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society > communication > writing > written character > punctuation > [noun] > virgule or oblique
virguler1610
virgula1728
virgule1837
slant-line1954
slash1961
slant1962
oblique1965
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Point A Point with a Virgula, call'd a Semicolon.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Comma A Virgula, Point, or Character..; serving to mark a short Stop.
1934 R. C. Priebsch & W. E. Collinson German Lang. ii. x. 380 The full stop or, instead, a virgula, i.e. a short slanting strike (/) is used..to mark the end of a sentence or of a portion of a sentence followed by a pause.
b. Music. (See quots.)
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society > leisure > the arts > music > written or printed music > notation > [noun] > character in notation > note > plain-song notes
pneumaa1398
virgula1786
neume1843
neuma1848
pneum1879
virga1908
1786 T. Busby Compl. Dict. Music Virgula, the name of one of the ten notes used in the middle ages.
1876 J. Stainer & W. A. Barrett Dict. Musical Terms 450/1 Virgula, (1) The stem or tail of a note. (2) A neume.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1917; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1656