torse

plural torses

1. governmentA twist of cloth or wreath, typically placed underneath and forming part of a crest (as an orle or wreath) and customarily shown with six twists, the first tincture being the tincture of the field, the second the tincture of the metal, and so on; rarely, it occurs as a charge.

   Synonyms: orle, wreath

plural torses

1. obsoleteThe torso.

   This done, ’twas only needed to supply / The necessary quantity of heads / To suit the growing torse; […]

   1892, [Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st] Earl of Lytton, “The Principle”, in King Poppy: Loftiness, Loneliness, Steadfastness, London; New York, N.Y.: Longmans, Green, and Co. […], page 149

   2 more examples

   To Painters, for the picturing of ſome exquiſit arme, leg, torſe or wreathing of the body, or any other rare poſture, whether ſmooth or forced.

   1634, Henry Peacham, “Of Antiquities”, in The Compleat Gentleman. Fashioning Him Absolut, in the Most Necessary and Commendable Qualities Concerning Minde or Body, That May Be Required in a Noble Gentleman. […], enlarged edition, London: […] Francis Constable, [[sic] Crane.">…

   One might ſtudy in this city for ages, and ſtill find ſomething new: we went from this to view the cardinal’s ſtatues, which are really very fine; there were three ſpintria executed in a very maſterly manner, all arm in arm: the torſe which I heard you talk ſo much of, is at laſt diſcovered to be a Hercules ſpinning, and not a Cleopatra bathing, as your lordſhip had conjectured: there has been a treatiſe written to prove it.

   1760, Oliver Goldsmith, “Letter XXXIII. To the same.”, in The Citizen of the World; or Letters from a Chinese Philosopher, […], volume I, London: […] [F]or the author; and sold by J. Newbery and W. Bristow, […]; J. Leake and W. Frederick, […]; B. Collins, […]; and A. M. Smart and Co. […], published 1762, →OCLC, page 145