Arch. rare. [a. F. cintre in same sense (16th c. in Littré), along with a cognate vb. cintrer, cf. med.L. cintrum (13th c. Littré), It. ce·ntina and centinare. Of uncertain origin; see Littré and Diez; the latter suggests a L. cincturāre, to girdle or gird. The F. word was perhaps the actual source of CENTRE sense 13, and its derivatives, though these have been in Eng. merged in centre (L. centrum), under which it appears in all the architectural works examined, exc. in Elmes.] The center or centering of a bridge or arch.
[c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 78. Cynter or masunry (cyynt of masonrye 1499), cintorium.] Ibid., 456. Syyntyr of masonrye [K. sintyr of masonry, 1499 syyntir of masunry], sinctorium [1499 cingatorium].
1826. J. Elmes, Dict. Arts, Cintre … the timber framing erected … between piers, to support voussoirs … of an arch while building.
