cartouche

noun

car·​touche kär-ˈtüsh How to pronounce cartouche (audio)
variants or less commonly cartouch
1
: a gun cartridge with a paper case
2
: an ornate or ornamental frame
3
: an oval or oblong figure (as on ancient Egyptian monuments) enclosing a sovereign's name

Examples of cartouche in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In 1814, Young determined that the hieroglyphs that were enclosed in ovals, called cartouches, were royal names, according to History.com. Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 18 Sep. 2024 One of the most intriguing discoveries was a bronze sword engraved with the cartouche of Ramses, or hieroglyphs arranged in an oval representing his name. Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Sep. 2024 According to the Independent, a large bronze sword featuring a cartouche of King Ramesses II, also known as Ramesses the Great, was unearthed, along with two limestone blocks. Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 11 Sep. 2024 Elsewhere are a dining room and a gourmet kitchen with detailed plaster moldings and a flamboyant cartouche featured above its stainless-steel oven. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 28 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for cartouche 

Word History

Etymology

Middle French cartouche, from Italian cartoccio, from carta

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cartouche was in 1548

Dictionary Entries Near cartouche

Cite this Entry

“Cartouche.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cartouche. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on cartouche

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!