Forms: α. 3–4 charbucle, -bokel, 3–5 -bocle, (3 -bugle), 4 -bokyll, -bukel(le, 5 -bokill, -bokell, 6 cherbukkill; β. 5 carbokyl, -bokull, (? 6 -bocle); γ. 5 charboncle, -bonkkel, -bouncle, 5–6 -buncle; δ. (4 carbunculum), 5 karboncle, carbunacle, 5–6 carboncle, 6 -bonkel, 6–7 -bunckle, 7 -bunkle, 4– carbuncle. [ME. charbucle, -bocle, a. central OF. charbucle, -boucle, var. of charbuncle, in ONF. carbuncle, carboucle (= Pr. carbuncle, Sp. carbunclo, († carbonco, † carboncol), It. carbonchio):—L. carbuncul-us small coal, carbuncle stone, red tumor, dim. of carbo coal. At a later period the forms in char- were displaced by carboucle, -buncle, which came nearer to the Lat.; these alone occur in the medical sense.
The mod.F. escarboucle is a by-form with a prefix es- (L. ex-), which goes back also to the 11th c. Cotgr. has also carboucle; charboucle remains in rural use for ‘smut of corn’ (Littré). Prob. both the change of -buncle to -boucle, and the prefixed es- were owing to popular etymology.]
1. (Formerly often more fully carbuncle-stone): A name variously applied to precious stones of a red or fiery color; the carbuncles of the ancients (of which Pliny describes twelve varieties) were probably sapphires, spinels or rubies, and garnets; in the Middle Ages and later, besides being a name for the ruby, the term was esp. applied to a mythical gem said to emit a light in the dark; in mod. lapidary work the term is applied to the garnet when cut en cabochon, or of a boss form, usually hollowed out to allow the color of the stone to be seen.
α. c. 1220. Hali Meid., 43. Alswa as a charbucle is betere þen a iacinet iþe euene of hare cunde.
a. 1300. Floriz & Bl., 234. On þe tur anouen-on Is a charbugle ston.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 3170. Chaundelers full chefe, & charbokill stones.
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, iii. 74. A charbokell … whiche stone full precyous was shinyng as a torche that brenneth.
β. c. 14[?]. Sir Beues (MS. C.). In the hylte was a carbokull [v.r. charbokyll] stone.
c. 1475. Pict. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 769. Hic carboculus, a carbokylstone.
γ. c. 1400. Maundev., xxii. 239. A rubye and a charboncle of half a fote long.
c. 1430. Lydg., Chorle & Byrde, xxxviii. The white Charbonkkel that rolleth in wave.
δ. c. 1305. Land Cokaygne, 90, in E. E. P. (1862), 158. Þer is … Carbuncle and astiune, Smaragde, lugre and prassiune.
1481. Caxton, Myrr., II. vii. 79. Carboncle, the whiche by nyght … shyneth as a cole brennyng.
1567. Maplet, Gr. Forest, 5. The Carbuncle … giueth light, but especially in the night season.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, I. 96. The Hebrewes … suppose that the Arke was lightened by a Carbuncle.
a. 1691. Boyle, Wks., I. 790 (R.). There are very learned men, who (plausibly enough) deny that there are any carbuncles or shining stones at all.
1787. Glover, Athenaid, IV. (R.). Carbuncles, gems of native light, Emitting splendour.
1816. P. Cleaveland, Min., 296. The carbuncle of the ancients was probably a garnet.
1866. Kingsley, Herew., I. viii. 201. All lighted by a single carbuncle.
† b. fig. applied to a thing or person of resplendent quality. Obs.
c. 1430. Lydg., Bochas, III. ix. (1554), 81 b. Charboncle of armes! mirrour of policie!
1513. Douglas, Æneis, Prol. 7. Thow peirles perle … Chosin cherbukle, cheif flour, and cedir tree.
c. 1630. Drumm. of Hawth., Poems, Wks. (1711), 1. The wand’ring carbuncles which shine from high.
c. Carbuncle as a substance; also fig. resplendent substance.
1413. Lydg., Pylgr. Sowle, V. iii. (1483), 93. This other world which thou seest sowen with sterres of Charbouncle.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 500. His Head Crested aloft, and Carbuncle his Eyes.
1847. Emerson, Repr. Men, iii. Swedenborg, Wks. (Bohn), I. 313. If you will have pure carbon, carbuncle, or diamond, to make the brain transparent.
2. Her. A carbuncle borne in a shield, and hence, a charge or bearing representing a carbuncle with its rays; = ESCARBUNCLE.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Sir Thopas, 160. His sheeld … And therin was a bores hed, A charboucle [v.r. charbokele, charbokil, charbokel] beside.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 2523. A charbocle in þe cheefe, chawngawnde of hewes.
1557. K. Arthur (Copland), V. ix. Griffons of golde in sable charbuncle ye chefe of syluer.
1572. Bossewell, Armorie, II. 55 b. The field is parted per Pale Nebule, Carboncle and Diamonde.
1727. in Chambers, Cycl.
1730–6. in Bailey; and in mod. Dicts.
3. Med. An inflammatory, circumscribed, malignant tumor, caused by inflammation of the skin and cellular membrane. It differs from a boil in having no central core; an anthrax.
[1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., VII. lix. (1495), 275. Antrax … is callyd also Carbunculus.]
1530. Palsgr., 157. Vne charboncle, a carboncle, a sore pestylenciall.
1562. Bulleyn, Bk. Simples, &c. 16 b. [It] healeth Antrax, called the Carbuncle.
1605. Shaks., Lear, II. iv. 227. A Byle, A plague sore, or imbossed Carbuncle In my corrupted blood.
a. 1691. Boyle, Wks., III. 676 (R.). Which turned to a pestilential carbuncle, that could scarce be cured in a fortnight after.
1859. Times, 20 April, 8/2. The original complaint of the King of Naples was carbuncle (anthrax).
b. A red spot or pimple on the nose or face caused by habits of intemperance.
1682. N. O., Boileau’s Lutrin, I. 87. Her Nose, emboss’d with Carbuncles Divine, Before her steps did like a Flamboy shine.
1709. Addison, Tatler, No. 131, ¶ 5. The Council for the Brewers had a Face … inflamed … with Carbuncles.
1830. G. P. R. James, Darnley, I. iv. 52. Sundry carbuncles illuminated his countenance, and gave an air of jollity to a face whose expression was not otherwise very amiable.
4. transf.
1805. Naval Chron., XIV. 368. The description of the carbuncles and the cotyledons [of a cuttle fish].
† 5. (See quots.) Obs.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb. (1586), 17 b. Carbuncle, that is ground over heated and parched with the sunne; which will burne the rootes of whatsoever commeth in it.
[1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 503. The hot earth, called … Carbunculus, which vseth to burn the corne sown therupon.]
6. attrib. and Comb., as carbuncle-face, -nose, -tumo(u)r; carbuncle-stone: see 1 above.
1658. Rowland, trans. Moufet’s Theat. Ins., 928. Their sting … causeth a carbuncle tumor.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Carbuncle-Face, very Red and full of large Pimples.
1710. Tatler, No. 260, ¶ 7. A Carbuncle Nose likewise bore an excessive Rate.
1864. Daily Tel., 17 March, 5/2. He wore … a carbuncle ring on his finger.
