bezant

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: bez=ant

CIDE DICTIONARY

bezant, n. [See Byzant.].

•  A gold coin of Byzantium or Constantinople, varying in weight and value, usually (those current in England) between a sovereign and a half sovereign. There were also white or silver bezants.  [1913 Webster]
•  A circle in or, i. e., gold, representing the gold coin called bezant.  Burke.  [1913 Webster]
•  A decoration of a flat surface, as of a band or belt, representing circular disks lapping one upon another.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

bezant, n.
1 hist. a gold or silver coin orig. minted at Byzantium.
2 Heraldry a gold roundel.

Etymology

ME f. OF besanz -ant f. L Byzantius Byzantine