Cancellus

/kænˈsɛləs/ noun

Definition

A latticed barrier, grill, or screen; the singular form of cancelli, used in architecture and anatomy.

Etymology

From Latin cancellus, literally meaning 'lattice' or 'grating,' derived from a root meaning 'to cross' or 'to weave.'

Kelly Says

A single cancellus in a medieval cathedral was an architectural barrier, but the same Latin word describes the microscopic lattices that give your skeleton its incredible strength-to-weight ratio.

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