bezant

American  

[bez-uhnt, bih-zant] / ˈbɛz ənt, bɪˈzænt /

Also besant

noun

1. Also bezzant the gold solidus of the Byzantine Empire, widely circulated in the Middle Ages.

2. Also byzant (in Romanesque architecture) any of a number of disklike ornaments, similar in form to the classical patera, used especially on the faces of archivolts.

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bezant British  

/ ˈbɛzənt, bɪˈzænt /

noun

1. a medieval Byzantine gold coin

2. architect an ornament in the form of a flat disc

3. heraldry a small gold circle

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Etymology

Origin of bezant

1150–1200; Middle English besant < Old French < Latin byzantius (nummus) “Byzantine (coin)”

Example Sentences

"A bezant, Master Falconer!—By my faith, you are no bold bodesman! nevertheless, double your offer, and I will consider it."

From The Betrothed by Scott, Walter, Sir

After they had used up everything they could find, a mere piece of bread cost a bezant.

From The Deeds of God Through the Franks by Levine, Robert

Wherefore the liang in relation to gold would be worth 120_d._ or 10_s._, a little over the Venetian ducat and somewhat less than the bezant or dínár.

From The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 1 by Yule, Henry

And all the while they are so light that ten bezants' worth does not weigh one golden bezant.

From The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 1 by Yule, Henry

Why doesn't a man who bears party per bend gules and or, a bezant and crab counterchanged," cried Rastignac, "display that ancient escutcheon of Picardy on the panels of a carriage?

From Secrets of the Princesse de Cadignan by Balzac, Honoré de