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
Ammiraglio dell'Arsenale
The Ammiraglio dell’Arsenale (Admiral of the Arsenale) was the highest-ranking craftsman of the Venetian navy docks, and as such the head of the arsenalotti
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
For bagatin, see denaro.
Balotin del Doge
The Balotin del Doge was a title commonly given to that boy, who was chosen by privilege by the new Doge, and who therefore assumed by right the rank of Ducal Notary, that is, Royal Secretary.
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 <em>Maggior Consiglio</em>.
Bersaglio (pl. bersagli)
A bersaglio was a shooting ground within Venice, used for obligatory military training in the Middle Ages and later.
Bezzo (pl. bezzi; also bezzino or mezzo soldo)
The bezzo (also bezzino or mezzo soldo) was a Venetian square copper coin, worth half a soldo or six denari, first issued in 1514.
A bigolo was a yoke for carrying heavy burdens, either of wood or of iron
Brocatello
Brocatello is a mixed fabric comprised of some combination of silk warp and weft of waste-silk, linen, flax, and/or cotton.
The Broglio or brolo was an area in Piazza San Marco, where the Venetian nobility met before the sessions of the <em>Maggior Consiglio</em>, 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
Cai del Consiglio di Dieci
The Cai del Consiglio di Dieci (Heads of the Council of Ten) were senior and powerful state officials charged with state security.
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 (also pianelle or zoccoli) were tall platform sandals or clogs, worn by Venetian women to look taller, and not to soil their feet in the streets.
Caleghér
A calle is a normal Venetian alleyway.
The game of calzo (or calcio) was a rugby-like game which the Venetian nobility played during Lent.
Camauro
The camauro is a light linen cap, which the doge wore under the corno ducale.
Cammeloto
Cammeloto (English: camlet) was an expensive, mixed fabric, most often of wool and silk, often in the colour of camel hair.
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.
Cendalo (or zendalo)
Cendalo (also zendalo; English: cendal) was a light fine cloth of raw silk or cotton, typically decorated with stripes.
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.
Comandador (pl. comandadori)
The Comandadori were heralds, charged with making public decrees and laws of the state, and sentences of the tribunals.
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.
A denaro (also bagatin, bagattino or piccolo) was a common Venetian copper coin for daily usage. Twelve denari made one soldo, and 240 one lira.
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 (Latin: ducatus) was the most ancient part of the Republic of Venice, made of the lagoon from Grado in the north, to Cavarzere in the south.
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.
Ducato veneto (pl. ducati; also ducato d'argento)
The ducato veneto (also ducato d’argento) was a Venetian silver coin, worth at times eight lire, or six lire and four denari, minted since 1562. The corresponding gold coin was a zecchino.
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
Gastaldo
The gastaldo was the elected leader of a guild of artisans or merchants, often called a scuola or confraternità (brotherhood).
The Ghetto is an area of Cannaregio, where the Jewish population had to live. Before that, metal works related to the Venetian navy.
Giudice del Proprio
The Giudice del Proprio (lit: Judge of Property) presided over a tribunal for disputes over real estate and dowries.
I
The incanto was a public auction, where the republic sold something.
Intromissione
The legal term intromissione was when a superior magistracy or state office took over a procedure from a lower instance, because of procedural issues.
L
Lira (pl. lire; also Lira Tron or Trona)
The lira is one of the most ancient Venetian monetary denominations, but only issued as coins after 1472 as the lira trona.. One lira was worth 20 soldi or 240 denari.
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.
Mozzetta
A mozzetta was a short, elbow length, mantel, which is still in use with Catholic clergy today.
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.
O
The Osella was a silver coin or medal, gifted to the aristocracy in replacement for the traditional gift of game birds (osei), from 1521.
P
A paludo a road in Venice, in an area which once was muddy or swampy. The word literally means a swamp.
Paron
The Paron is the bell-tower of the Basilica di San Marco, whose bells regulated time and working hours in Venice.
Parte (pl. parti)
A parte was a decision or decree from the Republic of Venice, which established new laws. Cf. terminazione.
The Venetian 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.
The Piombi were specific cells in the prison besides the Doge’s Palace.
Polvere di Cipri
Polvere di Cipri (lit: Cyprus powder) was the Venetian term for face powder.
The Pozzi were specific cells in the prison besides the Doge’s Palace.
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.
Prexon is Venetian for prison, which came in various types, such as forte (high security) and orbo (blind, without daylight).
Primicerio
The Primicerio was the head priest of the Basilica di San Marco, in its function as palace chapel. He was appointed directly by the doge.
The Procuratori di San Marco were mostly, but not entirely, an honorific position, held for life.
Promissione Ducale
The Promissione Ducale was a written oath that the doge had to sign, going back to the Middle Ages. It was a means to curb the excessive powers of the early doges.
Provveditori alla Giustizia Vecchia
The Provveditori alla Giustizia Vecchia oversaw the work of artisans in Venice, and controlled weights, measures, prices and the quality of goods.
Provveditori alle Pompe
The Provveditori alle Pompe was a magistracy of the Republic of Venice, responsible for regulating pomp and luxury.
Provveditori e Sopraprovveditori sopra Banchi
The Provveditori e Sopraprovveditori sopra Banchi oversaw banking activities in Venice, both private and the public Banco Giro.
Q
The Quarantia (also Consiglio dei Quaranta or Consiglio dei XL) was the main court of appeal in republican Venice, later divided into several branches, for criminal and civilian cases.
R
Rascia (or rasa)
Rascia (also rasa, English: rash) was a sturdy woollen fabric.
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.
Romana
The romana was a cloak derived from the tabarro, which a short black silk kilt, worn in the 1700s in Venice first only by citizens, later also by nobles.
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.
Sciamito
Sciamito (English: samite) was a fine quality silk cloth, commonly adorned with gold and silver threads.
Scoazze – Scoazzer – Scoazzera
Scoazze means rubbish. Scoazzer is a rubbish collector, and scoazzera a rubbish dump — see Differentiated rubbish collection in Venice.
Scudo (pl. scudi; also scudo d'argento or scudo della croce)
The scudo d’argento (also scudo della croce or simply scudo) was a Venetian silver coin of varying value, minted from 1577. The golden scudo d’oro, of much higher value, was issued from 1528.
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 soldo was a common Venetian copper coin, worth 12 denari or 1/20th of a lira. The word was also used generically for money.
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
Tabarro (or tabaro)
The Tabarro (also: tabaro) was a loose cloak or cape, often made from lush materials for use in winter, fastened at the front.
Tabi
Tabi (English: Tabby silk) was a kind of medium-quality, glossy taffeta, marbled, used for dresses or as a lining of fine garments.
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.
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 (English: vair) 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.
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.
Zecca
The Zecca was the official mint of the Republic of Venice.
Zecchino (pl. zecchini; also ducato d'oro)
The zecchino (also zechin, ducato d’oro or cecchino) was the finest Venetian gold coin, worth at the end of the republic, 22 lire.
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.
Leave a Reply