Also 7 astrigal. [(? a. F. astragale), ad. L. astragalus, a. Gr. ἀστράγαλος a huckle-bone (in pl. dice), a molding in the capital of a column, a leguminous plant. See also ASTRAGALUS.]
1. Phys. The ball of the ankle-joint; the huckle-bone; = ASTRAGALUS 1. Hence in pl. (as in Gr.): Dice, which were orig. huckle-bones.
1727–51. Chambers, Cycl. Astragal … a bone of the heel.
1850. Leitch, Müller’s Anc. Art, § 391. Eros as Ganymedes’ conqueror at the game of astragals.
2. Arch. A small molding, of semicircular section, sometimes plain, sometimes carved with leaves or cut into beads, placed round the top or bottom of columns, and used to separate the different parts of the architrave in ornamental entablatures. Also attrib.
1563. Shute, Archit., C j a. Nowe at the toppe of Scapus, you shall make Astragalus.
1651. Davenant, Gondibert, II. VI. xlvi. From the astrigal To the flat frieze.
1789. Smyth, trans. Aldrich’s Archit. (1818), 89. An astragal … has berries often cut on it.
1862. Rickman, Goth. Archit., 14. The torus when very small becomes an astragal.
1872. Shipley, Gloss. Eccl. Terms, 402. Roundel, a bead or astragal moulding.
3. Gunnery. A ring or molding encircling a cannon about six inches from the mouth.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Astragal … is therefore transferred to the canon.
1692. in Smith’s Seaman’s Gram., II. vi. 94. The Astragal, or Cornice Ring.
1862. F. Griffiths, Artill. Man. Muzzle Astragal and Fillets.
4. (See quot.) ? Obs.
1725. Bradley, Fam. Dict., s.v. Tyles, Scallop or Astragal are used in some places for weather Tyling.
1752. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Tyle, Scallop or astragal Tyles are … like plain tiles, only their lower ends are in form of an astragal.
