tessera

(tesər ə)

noun pl. tesserae

  1. in ancient Rome, a small tablet of wood, ivory, etc. used as a token, ticket, label, etc.
  2. any of the small pieces used in mosaic work

Origin: L, square piece, cube < Gr (Ionic) tesseres (for tessares), four: see tetra-

See tessera in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. tes·ser·ae (tĕsˈə-rēˌ)
One of the small squares of stone or glass used in making mosaic patterns.

Origin:

Origin: Latin

Origin: , from Greek

Origin: , neuter of tesseres

Origin: , variant of tessares, four; see kwetwer- in Indo-European roots

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