cestus

1
[ ses-tuh s ]
/ ˈsɛs təs /

noun, plural ces·ti [ses-tahy] /ˈsɛs taɪ/.

a girdle or belt, especially as worn by women of ancient Greece.
Classical Mythology. the girdle of Venus, decorated with every object that could arouse amorous desire.
Also especially British, ces·tos.

Origin of cestus

1
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

Words nearby cestus

cesti, cestoda, cestode, cestoid, cestoidea, cestus, cesura, cet, cet-, cet. par., ceta

Definition for cestus (2 of 2)

cestus 2
[ ses-tuh s ]
/ ˈsɛs təs /

noun, plural ces·tus·es. Roman Antiquity.

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

Origin of cestus

2
1725–35; < Latin cestus, caestus

Example sentences from the Web for cestus

British Dictionary definitions for cestus (1 of 2)

cestus 1

cestos (ˈsɛstɒs)

/ (ˈsɛstəs) /

noun

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

Word Origin for cestus

C16: from Latin, from Greek kestos belt, from kentein to stitch

British Dictionary definitions for cestus (2 of 2)

cestus 2

caestus

/ (ˈsɛstəs) /

noun plural -tus or -tuses

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

Word Origin for cestus

C18: from Latin caestus, probably from caedere to strike, slay