An oval or oblong enclosure containing Egyptian hieroglyphs that spell out the name of a pharaoh or royal person. These sacred name-rings were believed to protect the royal name for eternity.
From French 'cartouche' meaning paper cartridge, because early French archaeologists thought the oval hieroglyphic enclosures resembled the paper cartridges used for gunpowder. The Egyptian term was 'shenu,' meaning 'to encircle.'
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