Category:Tessera

Tes"se*ra, n.; pl. Tesseræ. Etym: [l., a square piece, a die. See Tessellar.]

Defn: a small piece of marble, glass, earthenware, or the like, Having a square, or nearly square, face, used by the ancients for Mosaic, as for making pavements, for ornamenting walls, and like Purposes; also, a similar piece of ivory, bone, wood, etc., used as a Ticket of admission to theaters, or as a certificate for successful Gladiators, and as a token for various other purposes. Fairholt.