Word origins

• CorbusianOf, pertaining to, or characteristic of the Swiss architect Le Corbusier.
• cordelingThe pulling of a boat by people walking along the shore holding an attached rope.
• corseletArmor for the body, for example a breastplate and backpiece taken together.
• CorseyA surname from French.
• corymbA cluster of flowers with a flat or convex top.
• Cote d'AzurThe warning track at the bottom of a velodrome, a non-racing surface representing the base of the banked oval course.
• Côte-NordA region of Quebec, Canada.
• coucheeA reception held at bedtime, such as by a royal.
• coudeea cubit (distance from the elbow to the end of the middle finger)
• count coupTo win prestige in battle by performing an act of bravery in the face of the enemy (such as touching him and escaping unharmed), a ritual of the Plains Indians of North America.
• countercomponyConsisting of a checkerboard of two rows of squares in alternating tinctures. (Contrast chequy.)
• counterfeisanceDeception, dissimulation.
• counterfloryDecorated with fleurs-de-lis or other floral motifs arranged in pairs opposite each other, especially on opposite sides of a border on a shield or banner.
• counter-palyPaly, and then divided fesswise, so that each vertical piece is cut into two, having the colours used alternately or counterchanged.
• counterposeTo act as a counterweight.
• counterpositionAn opposite or opposing position; opposition.
• coup d'oeilA glimpse, a glance; the ability, especially of a military officer, to understand much at a glance.
• courbarilHymenaea courbaril, a South American tree.
• CourchaineA surname from French.
• cour d'honneurA three-sided ceremonial courtyard, created by flanking the main central block, or corps de logis, with symmetrical advancing secondary wings containing minor rooms.
• courlanLimpkin.
• couvadeA practice among some peoples, such as the Basques, of the husband of a woman in the last stages of pregnancy taking to bed, avoiding certain foods, or imitating other behaviours of a pregnant woman.
• cramponeeHaving a cramp or square piece at the end; said of a cross.
• crampoonA clutch formed of hooked pieces of iron, like double calipers, for raising stones, lumber, blocks of ice, etc.
• crayeA type of vessel, which was notably used in Denmark and Sweden
• créneléEmbattled.
• crenellationA pattern along the top of a parapet (fortified wall), most often in the form of multiple, regular, rectangular spaces in the top of the wall, through which arrows or other weaponry may be shot, especially as used in medieval European architecture.
• CrequeA surname from French.
• cresselleA wooden rattle formerly used as a substitute for a bell in the Roman Catholic church.
• crestmarineThe plant rock samphire.
• cri du chat syndromeA rare genetic disorder identified by the catlike cry of the infant, caused by an absence of some genetic material on the fifth chromosome.
• croiseA pilgrim bearing or wearing a cross, i.e. a Christian crusader.
• crokinoleA game, popular in Canada, in which wooden discs are flicked towards the centre of a circular board.
• croque-monsieurA hot grilled ham and cheese sandwich, originating from France.
• CrotteauA surname from French.
• cruelsswelling in the lymph glands of neck, caused by scrofula
• cruisieAn oil-burning lamp.
• cryptomnesiaThe phenomenon of the reappearance of a long-forgotten memory as if it were a new experience; (countable) an instance of this. Contrast cryptaesthesia.
• crystalleryThe manufacture of crystal.
• culpeblameworthiness; fault
• curry favorTo seek to gain favor by flattery or attention.
• curtalA variety of short-barrelled cannon.
• CuvierianOf or relating to Georges Cuvier (1769–1832), French naturalist and zoologist.
• -dactyldigits
• DagornA surname from French.
• DakaroisA person from Dakar.
• damassinA kind of modified damask or brocade, having flowered patterns in gold or silver thread.
• dancettéDeeply indented; having large teeth.
• darioleA dessert consisting of puff pastry filled with almond cream, baked in an oven.
• dartarsA kind of scab or ulceration on the skin of lambs.
• dartrousRelating to, or suffering from, tetter (any of various pustular skin conditions); herpetic.
• DashnawA surname from French.
• dauphinoiseA dish of sliced potatoes baked in milk, cream and cheese.
• davreuxiteA monoclinic-prismatic mineral containing aluminum, hydrogen, manganese, oxygen, and silicon.
• de-reversal, undoing
• debarkTo unload goods from an aircraft or ship.
• debarrassTo disembarrass, disentangle, or free from.
• debaucheeSomebody who is debauched; somebody who is dissolute and acts without moral restraint.
• debeigeA kind of woollen or mixed-fabric (e.g. wool and cotton) cloth.
• DeBordeA surname from French.
• debouchA narrow outlet from which a body of water pours.
• deboucheTo enter into battle.
• debouchureThe outward opening of a river, creek, valley, or strait.
• de BryanA surname from French. Archaic form of Bryan.
• décadiThe tenth day of the decade (ten-day week) in the French Republican Calendar, superseding Sunday as a day of rest.
• decalageThe difference in angle of incidence between the main wing and horizontal stabilizer, or between the canard and main wing, of an airplane.
• decalcifyTo deprive of calcareous matter.
• decalitreTen litres. Symbol: daL
• decanalPertaining to a dean or deanery.
• decernTo decide or determine (a matter disputed or doubtful), with simple object, with infinitive or object clause, or intransitive.
• decilitreAn SI unit of fluid equal to 10⁻¹ liters. Symbol: dl.
• decimal candleA photometric standard formerly used in France, having the value of one twentieth of the Violle platinum standard, or slightly less than a British standard candle.
• decisoryAble to decide or determine.
• decrownTo deprive of a crown; to discrown.
• defailTo fail, or cause to fail.
• defailanceFailure; miscarriage.
• defailmentFailure.
• degarnishTo strip or deprive entirely, as of furniture, ornaments, etc.; to disgarnish.
• de grasPurified wool fat (lanolin).
• degrasA semisolid emulsion produced by the treatment of certain skins with oxidized fish oil, which extracts their soluble albuminoids. It was formerly used as a dressing for hides.
• degustTo taste carefully to fully appreciate something; to savour
• déjeunéA lunch.
• de la MareA surname of Norman origin.
• DelauderA surname from French.
• DelauterA surname from French.
• DeloshA surname from French.
• demandantOne who demands
• DemarayA surname from French.
• demarchThe chief magistrate of a deme.
• demicircleA semicircle.
• demineTo remove explosive mines (landmines or naval mines) from.
• demissionResignation; abdication.
• demitazzaA small cup of Greek coffee or espresso, typically about 40-60 ml/2–3 fl oz capacity.
• demonetizationThe act or process of demonetizing (withdrawing as legal tender).
• denationalizeTo transfer the control and ownership of an industry from government to private hands; to privatize.
• denivelationthe difference in level (depth) between two parts of a cave system, usually the highest and lowest known point. depth is the distance between the cave entrance and the lowest known point reached. denivelation is less than or equal to depth
• denticuleA small tooth or toothlike structure.
• depeachTo discharge or dispatch
• dephlegmationThe operation of separating water from spirits and acids, by evaporation or repeated distillation; concentration.
• dephlogisticateTo take away the phlogiston, i.e. ability to burn, which is now understood to be chemically impossible