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.
B
The Barbarèla was a kind of lottery, where young noblemen could enter the Maggior Consiglio before the normal age of twenty-five.
The barnabotti were poor nobleman, who had to beg for money, or sell their votes in the Maggior Consiglio.
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 privately. Originally, it meant a garden with fruit trees, of which there was one where the Procuratie Nuove stands today. Later the broglio was under the portico of the Palazzo Ducale.
Bussolai are traditional Venetian sweet cakes, usually in doughnut shape, originally from Burano. The name derives from bussola, which means a compass.
C
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.
A carampane was a prostitute, in particular an older prostitute — see Prostitution in Venice.
The case fatte per soldo were families, which entered the Venetian nobility in the 1600s and 1700s, by making large donations to the Republic of Venice.
The case nuove were families, which entered the Venetian nobility after the year 800, but before or around the Locking of the Council in 1297.
The case nuoveissime were families, which entered the Venetian nobility after the War of Chioggia (1378–1381).
The case vecchie were families, which were part of the Venetian nobility before the year 800.
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.
D
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
M
The Maggior Consiglio was the sovereign body of the Republic of Venice, where all noblemen aged twenty-five or more participated.
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.
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.
N
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.
R
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.
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.
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 Firma (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
See vesta.
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
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.
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.
Leave a Reply