noun

cartouche

kah-TOOSH

noun

An oval frame in Egyptian hieroglyphics enclosing a royal or divine name.

"The archaeologist identified the pharaoh's name inside the cartouche."

An ornamental oval or scroll-shaped design used in architecture or on maps.

"The old map had an elaborate cartouche in one corner listing the cartographer's name."

How to Use Cartouche

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMost commonly known as the oval symbol surrounding a name in Egyptian hieroglyphics.

Easily confused with

cartridge →

cartouches plural

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Can you complete this real example?

The archaeologist identified the pharaoh's name inside the _____.

Borrowed from French cartouche, from Italian cartuccia, ultimately from Latin charta ("paper") — a doublet of "cartridge."

douche gauche