ext_147905 ([identity profile] prettygoodword.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] 1word1day2015-12-03 07:38 am
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Thursday word: penannular

penannular (pen-AN-yuh-lar) - adj., having the shape of an almost complete ring.


A ring with a gap. I have usually heard this in terms of eclipses of the sun, as this:



However, researching for this post I find that the predominant usage is talking about brooches, especially Celtic brooches. The word was coined in the 1850s from Latin roots pene-, almost +‎ annular, ring-shaped.

His cloak was pinned at his shoulder with a penannular silver brooch.

---L.