Obs. Forms: 6 Sc. carkanne, (carcant), 6–7 carquan, 7 carkan, carkeyne, 6–8 carcan. [a. F. carcan (in OF. also quercant, cherchant, charchant, Pr. carcan, late L. carcannum, It. carcame), f. Teut.: cf. OHG. quercka (fem.), ON. kverk, in comb. kverka- throat.]
1. An iron collar used for punishment.
1534. Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel., iv. D iij b. Carcans for blasphemers, chaynes for sclaues.
1596. Danett, trans. Comines, 236. A fetter to put on their feete, very hard to be opened, like to a carquan.
1777. Brand, Pop. Antiq. (1849), III. 109. An iron collar or carcan.
2. An ornamental collar or necklace; = next.
1539. Ld. Treas. Acc., in Pitcairn, Crim. Trials, I. 299. New-ȝeris Giftis, in chenȝeis, tabullatis, ringis, stanis, carkannis.
1601. Holland, Pliny, XXXIII. xii. Carquans and such ornaments for their shooes of silver. Ibid. (1603), Plutarch’s Mor., 215. The gorgeous trappings and capparisons, the brooches, collars and carkans of riches.
1694. Strype, Cranmer, App. iii. 7. One carkeyne of gold antique warke.
