[ad. It. bucentoro, of uncertain origin; it is commonly supposed that the name was taken from the figure-head of the vessel, representing a creature half man, half ox, which may have been designated by the Gr. name *βουκένταυρος, f. Gr. βοῦς οx + κένταυρος centaur (cf. ὀνοκένταυρος ONOCENTAUR); the word is unknown to ancient mythology. The Ital. word was sometimes used unchanged.]
1. Hist. The state barge in which on Ascension Day the Doge of Venice went to wed the Adriatic by dropping a ring into it.
1612. W. Shute, trans. Fougasses’s Venice, II. 479. The Bucentaure … was gently towed to Venice.
1756. Nugent, Gr. Tour Italy, III. 61. The Bucentaure … is a particular kind of vast galeasse, very much adorned with sculptures and gilding.
1818. Byron, Ch. Har., IV. xi. The Bucentaur lies rotting unrestored.
1866. Punch, 27 Oct., LI. 172. She that was plight of old with Doge and Bucentaur and ring.
† 2. transf. A large ship; a gaily decorated barge resembling the Bucentaur of Venice. Obs.
1623. Cockeram, I. Bucentaure, a carricke or great ship.
[1658. Hist. Christina Q. Swedland, 83. Her Majestie continu’d her journey … towards Bruxells in a Bucentoro most richly adorn’d, and guilded within and without.]
