_The initials Z and S and Z and C frequently interchange, especially in
old words derived from the German, as zither, cither; zentner, centner,
&c. The German Z is pronounced ts._
=Zaba=, =Zava=. An Arabic cuirass. (_Meyrick._)
=Zabaoth.= (See SABAOTH.)
=Zafferano=, It. Saffron. A vegetable yellow pigment.
=Zaffre= (It. _zaffiro_). An ancient blue pigment, prepared from
_cobalt_, of a _sapphire_ blue, resembling _smalt_.
=Zamarilla=, Sp. A loose jacket of sheepskins.
=Zarf.= An oriental saucer for coffee-cups.
=Zauca=, =Zaucha=, or =Zauga=, Gr. and R. A soft and flexible leather
boot peculiar to Eastern nations; it was worn under the trousers.
=Zazahan=, Sp. A kind of flowered silk.
=Zebec.= A common form of sailing vessel in the Mediterranean, rigged
with a lateen sail.
=Zebra Wood.= The _Hyawaballi_ of Guiana, a beautiful wood for
furniture.
=Zebu.= The humped species to which the sacred Brahmin bull belongs,
represented in Hindu art.
=Zema=, Gr. and R. (ζέμα). A vessel of earthenware or metal, a saucepan.
=Zemzemeeyeh=, Arabic. A skin for carrying water in the desert.
=Zend-Avesta=, Pers. “The Word of Life” or “Living Word.” The sacred
book of the Parsees; it consists of two parts, one of which is written
in _Zend_, the other in _Pehloi_ and _Parsee_. The first part is called
_Vendidad-Salé_, and the second _Boundehech_.
=Zenith.= The centre of the arch of the sky overhead. (Cf. NADIR.)
=Zephyr Yarn= is the dyed worsted thread usually known as _Berlin wool_.
=Zeuxite.= A gem. (See TOURMALINE.)
=Zigzag=, Arch. One of the mouldings frequently used in Norman
architecture, running in zigzag lines. (See Fig. 488.) Fig. 123 is an
illustration of a variety of this ornament on a column. _Zigzig_
mouldings in connexion with pointed arches are characteristic of the
transition period of architecture, from the Norman to the Early English,
frequently called _chevron_.
[Illustration: Fig. 704. Duchess of Parma in richly embroidered robes
and zimarra.]
=Zimarra.= An Oriental robe, called in England also _Samare_. Described
as a lady’s jacket: “it has a loose body and four side laps or skirts,
which extend to the knee; the sleeves short, cut to the elbow, turned up
and faced.”—_Randle Holme._
=Zincography.= Engraving on plates of zinc, introduced in 1817. (See
PHOTOZINCOGRAPHY.)
=Zinc White.= A pigment recently introduced as a substitute for the
preparations of white lead. It is little liable to change, either by
atmospheric action or mixture with other pigments. It is the white oxide
of zinc, and is also called _Chinese White_ (q.v.).
=Zipo=, Med. Lat. A shirt of mail.
=Zircon.= A peculiar rare grey and brown earth, found in the true rough
and opaque varieties of hyacinth stone, which are met with in Ceylon,
Norway, Carinthia, and the Ural. The term _hyacinth_ is applied to the
transparent and bright-coloured varieties of zircon, and _jargoon_ to
crystals devoid of colour and of a smoky tinge, occasionally sold as
inferior diamonds. (_Simmonds’ Com. Dict._)
=Zither.= A favourite stringed instrument of a soft and sweet effect,
much used in the Austrian Tyrol. It is played lying flat on a table, and
the strings struck with a _plectrum_ worn on the thumb.
=Zocle= or =Socle=, Arch. The plinth in classical architecture.
=Zodiacus=, =Zodiac=, Gen. (ζωδιακὸς, i. e. pertaining to animals). The
zone of the celestial sphere which extends to eight degrees on either
side of the ecliptic. The Egyptians had representations of it in their
temples, the most celebrated being that of _Denderah_, a cast of which
is at the Louvre. Other zodiacs have also been found in the great temple
of Esneh and at Contra-Lato. Many monuments of the Romano-Byzantine and
Gothic periods possess representations of zodiacs. They occur on the
doorways and other parts of churches from the end of the 10th century.
In particular may be noted the one which figures on the bas-reliefs of
the frieze in the side apsides of the Romano-Auvergniate church of St.
Paul d’Issoire. One of the largest zodiacs, dating from the beginning of
the 11th century, is that of the church of St. Vézelay. The series of
medallions which surround the great tympanum representing Christ and the
apostles, contain, independently of the signs of the zodiac,
representations of the agricultural operations belonging to each month
of the year.
[Illustration: Fig. 705. Zona.]
=Zona=, Gr. (1) A girdle, used to gird up the skirts of the dress for
freedom of action (Fig. 157); on occasions of solemnity, as sacrifices
or funerals, the girdle was relaxed, and the folds of the dress allowed
to hang to the feet (Fig. 537); as a part of the marriage ceremony it
was taken off. Upon the armour of men it supported the kilt, and was
worn round the cuirass (Fig. 705; cf. Fig. 44). It was generally used as
a purse. The celebrated girdle (_cestus_) of Venus, which conferred
beauty and inspired love, is not represented on the statues of that
goddess. There is a town on the Ægean Sea called Zona from the belt of
trees upon it, still growing in the processional order in which they
arrived when they left their native plantations and followed the music
of Orpheus. (2) In Architecture, an entablature which encircles any
isolated building. Lofty buildings surrounded by seven _zones_ were
described as _septizonia_. (3) In painted vases, horizontal annular
bands often decorated with animals. (See ZOOPHORI.)
=Zonula.= Diminutive of ZONA.
=Zoomara=, Arab. A double clarionet.
[Illustration: Fig. 706. Greek Vase decorated with Zoophori.]
=Zoophori.= Bands of ornament on friezes, vases, &c., representing
animals. (See Figs. 706, 707.)
[Illustration: Fig. 707. Vase with bands of Zoophori.]
=Zophorus=, Gr. and R. (ζωφόρος). Literally, bearing animals, and thence
a _frieze_, decorated with figures of animals, conventional or real.
=Zotheca=, Gr. and R. (ζω-θήκη). A small chamber adjoining a larger
apartment, whither the occupant might retire for the purpose of study.
(2) A small niche for the reception of a statue, vase, or any other
object. The Romans had a diminutive for _zotheca_, viz. _zothecula_.
=Zummárah=, Egyp. A musical instrument; a double reed pipe.