JACQUEMART Meaning and
Definition
-
A jacquemart is a mechanical automaton or animated figure typically found on a clock tower or a public building's facade. The term "jacquemart" is derived from the French word "jaques-mart," which translates to "Jack of Mars" or "devils" in English. These decorative sculptures often depict figures representing mythological characters, animals, or historical personalities, and they are used to strike the hour on the clock or ring a bell.
Jacquemarts are traditionally made of metal, usually cast in bronze or iron, and are often brightly painted to enhance their visual appeal. The figures are articulated in such a way that they can move their arms or other parts of their bodies to strike a bell using a hammer or a mallet.
The use of jacquemarts dates back to the medieval period, where they were commonly found on churches, cathedrals, and significant public buildings across Europe. These automata served as both functional devices to indicate the time and elaborate decorative elements that added visual interest to the architectural structure.
Today, jacquemarts continue to be a popular feature used for ornamentation on buildings, particularly in France and Belgium, where they are considered an important part of the local cultural heritage. They are regarded as charming symbols of craftsmanship, often evoking a sense of historical and traditional aesthetics.
Common Misspellings for JACQUEMART
- hacquemart
- nacquemart
- macquemart
- kacquemart
- iacquemart
- uacquemart
- jzcquemart
- jscquemart
- jwcquemart
- jqcquemart
- jaxquemart
- javquemart
- jafquemart
- jadquemart
- jac1uemart
- jac2uemart
- jacwuemart
- jacauemart
- jacqyemart
- jacqhemart
Etymology of JACQUEMART
The word "jacquemart" has an interesting etymology. It is thought to derive from the Middle French term "jacques-mart", which literally means "Jack of the clock".
The term "Jacques" is the French equivalent of the English name "Jack", while "mart" comes from the Old High German word "marahha", which means "hammer". The combination of the two words "Jacques" and "mart" can be interpreted as "Jack with a hammer", referring to the mechanical figures of men striking a bell with a hammer found on some medieval clocks.
Over time, "jacques-mart" evolved into "jacquemart", and this term has become widely used in French to refer to these figures typically found on tower clocks.
