Venetian history and culture are full of terms and expressions, which are found nowhere else. This glossary is an attempt at explaining some of them.
The links on the terms shows a list of articles, which cover or explain the term the best, be it an article or a translated source or document.
A
The Arsenale were the navy docks of the Republic of Venice, which occupies about one-sixth of the area of the city.
The arsenalotti were the workers in the Venetian navy docks, the Arsenale, who also often served as armed guards and security around the institutions of the Republic of Venice.
The Avogadori de Comùn served as public prosecutors, as guarantors of the legality of the political and administrative procedures of the Republic of Venice
B
Banco Giro
The Banco Giro was a public bank of the Republic of Venice, instituted in 1585, and presided over by a senator for three-months terms.
The Barbarèla was a kind of lottery, where young noblemen could enter the Maggior Consiglio before the normal age of twenty-five.
Bareta (pl. barete)
The bareta was a small round black cap, woollen, covered in silk, which was an essential part of the attire of a magistrato.
The barnabotti were poor nobleman, who had to beg for money, or sell their votes in the Maggior Consiglio.
Bersaglio (pl. bersagli)
A bersaglio was a shooting ground within Venice, used for obligatory military training in the Middle Ages and later.
A bigolo was a yoke for carrying heavy burdens, either of wood or of iron
The Broglio or brolo was an area in Piazza San Marco, where the Venetian nobility met before the sessions of the Maggior Consiglio, to discuss matters more informally.
Bussolai are traditional Venetian sweet cakes, usually in doughnut shape, originally from Burano. The name derives from bussola, which means a compass.
C
Calar stola
The term calar stola referred to a nobleman moving his stola from the shoulder down to his forearm, in a situation where he was asking another nobleman a favour.
Calcagnette were tall platform sandals or clogs, worn by Venetian women to look taller, and not to soil their feet in the streets.
A calle is a normal Venetian alleyway.
A campo is a Venetian square. The world means ‘field’, as most squares in Venice were only paved in modern times.
Candia
Candia was the Venetian name for the Greek island of Crete.
The carampane were prostitutes, in particular older prostitutes, or ruffians — see Prostitution in Venice.
The case fatte per soldo (houses made by money) were families, which entered the Venetian nobility in the 1600s and 1700s, by making large donations to the Republic of Venice.
The case nuove (the new houses) were families, which entered the Venetian nobility after the year 800, but before or around the Locking of the Council in 1297.
The case nuovissime (the very new houses) were families, which entered the Venetian nobility after the War of Chioggia (1378–1381).
The case vecchie (the old houses) were families, which were part of the Venetian nobility before the year 800.
A patrician, who was a Cavaliere di San Marco was styled Cavaliere della stola d’oro, and wore a golden stola.
The Cavalieri di San Marco were the only chivalric order in Venice, and mostly an honorific with little real power.
Cocciopesto was a dark red colour made by ground red brick and rust.
A codega was a lantern bearer, who illuminated the dark alleyways of Venice for payment.
The concio (or concione) was the original popular assembly in the earliest times of Venice, which elected the doges.
Condannato al remo (pl. condannati al remo)
The term condannato al remo meant being sentenced to forced labour in the Venetian navy, rowing the war galleys.
The Consiglio di Dieci (Council of Ten) oversaw state security and sat a court for the prosecution of crimes against the state and in cases against patricians.
Consoli dei mercanti
The Consoli dei mercanti were magistrates of the republic, known from the early 1200s, who oversaw the activities of the merchant class.
Consultori in Iure
The Consultori in Jure were advisors to the Venetian government in theological matters, canon law, and relations to the Papal curia.
Corno ducale
The corno ducale was the ceremonial hat that the Doge wore on all public occasions.
D
Da mo
The da mo (lit. “from now”) were decrees and decisions which entered into force immediate when deliberated.
Depositario del Banco-Giro
The Depositario del Banco-Giro was a magistrate in charge of the day-to-day running of the Banco Giro.
The Dogado was the most ancient part of the Republic of Venice, made of the lagoon from Grado in the north, to Cavarzere in the south.
Dogalina
The dogalina was a long robe of wool or black silk, down to the heels, with tight sleeves, worn in public appearances of semi-ceremony by the magistrates of the Republic. It was also worn by the doges, although in various colours, and generally still in use in the 1600s.
The doge was the head of the Republic of Venice — main articles: The Doge and Doges of Venice.
E
The Esecutori contro la Biastemia were charged with fighting blasphemy and controlling vice, such as gambling, drinking and prostitution.
F
The fanti da mar were the marine infantry of the Republic of Venice.
A fondamenta is a quayside along a canal, or facing the lagoon.
Forzato (pl. forzati)
The forzati were people sentenced to forced labour in the navy docks as a punishment for some crime.
Frittole are fried, sweet dumplings, sometimes rolled in sugar, which are a popular treat in Venice during Carnival.
Fusta
The Fusta was a war galley, which was kept near San Marco as a temporary holding area for prisoners sentenced to forced labour in the Arsenale.
G
The Ghetto is an area of Cannaregio, where the Jewish population had to live. Before that, metal works related to the Venetian navy.
I
The incanto was a public auction, where the republic sold something.
M
The Maggior Consiglio was the sovereign body of the Republic of Venice, where all noblemen aged twenty-five or more participated.
Magistrato
A magistrato was a nobleman appointed to an official role in the Republic of Venice. Magistrates could be appointed by the Maggior Consiglio, by the Senate, by the Council of Ten, and by many others higher bodies of the republic.
Malvasia was a Greek wine, which was very popular in Venice, as attested by the many street names mentioning it.
Ministro (pl. ministri)
A ministro was a subordinates of a magistrato, usually an original citizen.
The mondo nuovo was a peep box or raree show, which was a common street entertainment in the 1700s.
Morea
Morea was the Venetian name for the Peloponnese.
N
Negroponte
Negroponte was the Venetian name for the Greek islands of Euboea (Evia).
The nizioleti are the painted street signs in Venice. The word means a small bedsheet — see Streets in Venice.
P
A paludo a road in Venice, in an area which once was muddy or swampy. The word literally means a swamp.
Parte (pl. parti)
A parte was a decision or decree from the Republic of Venice, which established new laws. Cf. terminazione.
The Veentian phrase però l’anderà parte separated the preamble from the decisions in a Venetian decree. The Latin counterpart was vadit pars. It can be translated as “so goes the decision”.
The Pien Collegio was the Signoria with three groups of Sages, primarily in charge of foreign relations.
Pregadi (also Senato and Rogati)
The Pregadi was the Senate of the Republic of Venice, and one of the most important institutions of the republic.
The Procuratori di San Marco were mostly, but not entirely, an honorific position, held for life.
Provveditori e Sopraprovveditori sopra Banchi
The Provveditori e Sopraprovveditori sopra Banchi oversaw banking activities in Venice, both private and the public Banco Giro.
R
Ridotto
The Ridotto was a palace on the Grand Canal near San Moisè where the nobility met for gambling. More generally, the word means a meeting or a meeting place.
A rio is city canal in Venice. Almost all canals in the city of Venice are called rio.
A rio terà is an interred canal in Venice, that is, a road which once was a canal.
Ruga is a less common name for a Venetian alleyway.
S
A salizada is a Venetian road, among the earliest to be paved in the Middle Ages, most likely because they were muddy.
The Savi agli ordini were originally entrusted with matters of the navy and the Stato da Mar, but later it became an entry-level position for young noblemen starting their political career.
The Savi di Terra Ferma were after 1519 generally in charge of the economic and administrative sides of military matters in the Stato di Terra Ferma.
The Savi Grandi or Savi del Consiglio were a group of sages closely associated with the Doge and the Signoria.
Scoazze – Scoazzer – Scoazzera
Scoazze means rubbish. Scoazzer is a rubbish collector, and scoazzera a rubbish dump — see Differentiated rubbish collection in Venice.
A Venetian scuola could be a charity, a lay religious organisation or a guild. The scuole grandi were major charities recognised by the republic.
The Sensa was Ascension day, and more specifically, the Feast of the Ascension held each year with much pomp.
The sestieri are the six parts of Venice, from ancient times.
The Serenissima Signoria were the Doge and the six Councillors of the Doge, appointed annually by the Maggior Consiglio, the closest the Republic of Venice had to an executive..
A spritz is a popular Venetian aperitivo based on the Austrian gesprizter made of white wine and sparkling water.
The Stato da Mar (lit. the Sea State) was all the Venetian dominions down the Adriatic Sea and around in Greece.
The Stato da Terra Ferma (lit. the Mainland State) was all the Venetian mainland dominions, established from the late 1300s.
A stola was a band of fabric, usually the same material as the vesta, hanging over the left shoulder of a magistrato of the republic.
A strazzariol was merchant of used clothes, furniture and household items.
T
Taffeta
Taffeta is a crisp, glossy silk fabric, fashionable in the 1600s and 1700s.
Terminazione (pl. terminazioni)
A terminazione was a decision from a magistracy of the republic, which enacted or implemented the laws. Cf. parte.
Toga
See vesta.
Tragheto (pl. tragheti)
A tragheto was a ferry service, usually for crossing the Grand Canal, where, until recently, there was only one bridge, the Rialto Bridge. There were other tragheti too, such as at Santa Giustina. They are precursors of the current-day gondola services.
V
The Latin phrase vadit pars separated the preamble from the decisions in a Venetian decree. The Venetian counterpart was però l’anderà parte. It can be translated as “so goes the decision”.
Vaio (pl. vai)
Vaio is fur of Baltic or Sibirian squirrels. The belly of the winter coat was especially sought after, and used in the dress of the Doge and top magistrates.
The velada was a long overcoat, extending almost to the knees, which was very popular in the 1700s.
Vesta (pl. veste)
The vesta was a long robe with wide sleeves, lined with fur, worn by magistrates of the Republic, with a stole across the left shoulder.
Z
Zaffo (pl. zaffi, also zafo/zafi)
The zaffi were the low ranking executive ministers who served under the Venetian Republic at the orders of the judiciary and public finances, and made the arrests.
Zibibbo means raisins, often used in cakes and sweets.
Zonta (pl. zonte)
A zonta (ital: aggiunta; eng: adjunct) in the Republic of Venice was a later addition or enlargement of an existing office of state.
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