cestus

¹ American  

[ses-tuhs] / ˈsɛs təs /

especially British, cestos

noun

plural

cesti

1. a girdle or belt, especially as worn by women of ancient Greece.

2. Classical Mythology. the girdle of Venus, decorated with every object that could arouse amorous desire.

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cestus ² American  

[ses-tuhs] / ˈsɛs təs /

noun

Roman Antiquity.

plural

cestuses

1. a hand covering made of leather strips and often covered with metal studs, worn by boxers.

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cestus ¹ British  

/ ˈsɛstəs, ˈsɛstɒs /

noun

1. classical myth the girdle of Aphrodite (Venus) decorated to cause amorousness

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cestus ² British  

/ ˈsɛstəs /

noun

1. (in classical Roman boxing) a pugilist's gauntlet of bull's hide loaded or studded with metal

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Etymology

Origin of cestus¹

1570–80; < Latin < Greek kestós a girdle, literally, (something) stitched, equivalent to kes- (variant stem of kenteîn to stitch; see center) + -tos verbal adjective suffix

Origin of cestus²

1725–35; < Latin cestus, caestus

Example Sentences

They were the Army's cestus in punch after armed punch on the slogging road across North Africa, in the invasions of Sicily and Italy.

From Time Magazine Archive

They do not, however, appear to have used the cestus, nor to have known the art of boxing; though in one group, at Beni Hassan, the combatants appear to strike each other.

From Museum of Antiquity A Description of Ancient Life by Haines, T. L. (Thomas Louis)

What Paphian cestus," was another sour comment, "does Lola wind round the blade of her poniard?

From The Magnificent Montez From Courtesan to Convert by Wyndham, Horace

Pure Friendship was there With celestial air, Her cestus around us she threw; “Be united,” she cried, “Ne’er may discord divide A union so blissful and true.”

From Heart Utterances at Various Periods of a Chequered Life by Gurney, Eliza Paul

But the girdle of girdles was the magic cestus of golden Aphrodite, which Hera borrowed in order to captivate Zeus.

From Greek Women by Carroll, Mitchell