lozenge

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a small medicated tablet or sweet, often used for a sore throat

   She took a throat lozenge before speaking.

2. 2
   noun

   a diamond-shaped figure with four equal sides

   The window was patterned with blue lozenges.

Simplified etymology

Lozenge comes from Old French losenge and probably derives from Spanish losa or Portuguese lousa, meaning “slab,” and late Latin lausiae (lapides), meaning “stone slabs.” It primarily denotes a diamond shape; its use for a tablet arose in the early 16th century because such tablets were originally diamond-shaped.

From Middle English losenge, from Old French losenge, 'rhombus'.

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary