misericord Hear it!

misericord definition

mis·eri·cord or misericorde mis·er′i·corde′ (mi zer′i kôrd′; also miz′ər i-)

noun

  1. a narrow ledge on the underside of a hinged seat, as in a choir stall, designed to support a person standing at rest against the turned-up seat
  2. a dagger used in the Middle Ages for giving the death stroke (coup de grâce) to a wounded knight

Etymology: ME misericorde < OFr < L misericordia < misericors, merciful < base of misereri (see Miserere) + cor, heart

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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