tessera
nounEtymology Borrowed from Latin tessera (“a cube, a die with numbers on all six sides”), from Ancient Greek τέσσαρες (téssares, “four”).
1
A small square piece of stone, wood, ivory or glass used for making a mosaic.
- The map was laid using tesserae, small cube-shaped tiles of limestone, marble, or colored stone.2014, Jerry Brotton, Great Maps, DK, page 35:
2
Astronomy, Natural sciences, Planetology A complex-ridged surface feature seen on plateau highlands of Venus and perhaps on Triton.
3
Rare An ancient Roman die.
- During the reign of Augustus, Rome imported marble from Egypt and Africa, and games of tali and tessera were played.1971, Gwen White, Antique Toys And Their Background, page 110:
- Derived terms
- contesseration, tessellate, tesseract, tesseral