Also 6 syma, 6–9 sima, 7–8 scima, 8–9 cima. [mod.L., a. Gr. κῦμα anything swollen, a billow, a wave, a waved or ogee molding, the young sprout of a cabbage (in which sense also L. cȳma, whence the botanical use).]
1. Arch. A molding of the cornice, the outline of which consists of a concave and a convex line; an ogee.
Cyma recta: a molding concave in its upper part, and convex in its lower part. Cyma reversa (rarely inversa): a molding convex in its upper part, and concave in its lower part.
1563. Shute, Archit., C i b. 4 partes geue also to Sima reuersa. Ibid., C iij b. That second parte which remayneth of the Modulus ye shall geue vnto Syma.
1703. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 267. Scima reversa … Scima recta, or Ogee.
1726. Leoni, Alberti’s Archit., II. 34 b. A Cima inversa of the breadth of two minutes.
1761. Brit. Mag., II. 642. The true cima, or cimaise.
1850. Leitch, Müller’s Anc. Art, § 249. 258. A base of several plinths and cymas.
2. Bot. = CYME 1 and 2.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Cyma … the young Sprout of Coleworts, or other Herbs; a little Shoot, or Branch: But it is more especially taken by Herbalists for the top of any Plant.
1775. J. Lightfoot, Flora Scotica (1792), I. 236. The cyma, or little umbel which terminates the branches.
