Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases. Christopher Coredon with Ann Williams.
Blemmyes — 1) (Blemmyä, a. Geogr.), Volk in Nieder–Äthiopien, nach dem Arabischen Meerbusen zu; nach der Sage waren sie kopflose Ungeheuer, die Augen, Mund u. Nase auf der Brust hätten Später machten sie häufige Einfälle in Süd–Ägypten, wurden unter Kaiser… … Pierer's Universal-Lexikon
Babewyn — Any of the ugly or demonic creatures which populate medieval artwork; many are to be found cut in *cathedral stone, tucked away from first gaze. [< OldFr. babuin = grimace, baboon; MdEngl. babywynrie = something monstrous] Cf. Babery; Bagwyn;… … Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases
Bestiary — The illustrated bestiary, depicting real and imagined creatures, is a distinctive medieval construct. Bestiaries first appeared in England in the 12c and were derived ultimately from a Greek text, the Physiologus, from 4c Alexandria. They display … Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases
Gargoyle — A grotesque figure, e.g. on the gutter of a roof, through whose mouth rainwater spouts; a distinctive feature of *Gothic architecture. [< OldFr. gargouille = throat; thus the passage of water from the mouth] Cf. Babery; Blemmya … Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases
Gryllus — A fantastic monster of unusually awkward anatomy: its face was between its legs. [Lat. gryllus = grasshopper] Cf. Babewyn; Bestiary; Blemmya; Cynocephalus … Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases
