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bucranium

noun bu·cra·ni·um \ byüˈkrānēəm \
variants: or less commonly bucrane \(ˈ)byü¦krān\

Definition of bucranium

plural bucrania \byüˈkrānēə\ also bucranes
: a sculptured ornament (as on a Roman Ionic or Corinthian frieze) composed of an ox skull adorned with ribbons or garlands

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Origin and Etymology of bucranium

Latin, from Greek boukranion ox head, from bous ox, head of cattle + kranion skull

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