phalera

noun

phal·​era

ˈfalərə

plural phalerae

-əˌrē,

-ˌrī

: a metal boss or disk (as of bronze or silver) worn in ancient times on the heads or breasts of horses or sometimes by men as signs of military rank

also : a cameo worn as an ornament

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek phalara, plural; akin to Greek phalos horn of a helmet and probably to Sanskrit hvarate he bends, hruṇāti he gets lost

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