Definition of lozenge

The word "lozenge" originated from the Middle French term "losange," which referred to a type of shaped candy resembling a diamond or rhombus. The word made its way into English around the 16th century, initially used to describe the shape of the candy. However, the term "lozenge" also held different meanings over time. In some instances, it was used to describe objects that contained medicinal substances. For example, lozenges were sometimes used as cough remedies during the 18th and 19th centuries, and those forms were also diamond-shaped like the candy. The use of the word "lozenge" to describe visual patterns or shapes appeared around the 19th century. Initially used to refer to the diamond-shaped configuration of playing cards during games such as cribbage or kiss-in-the-ring, the term was later extended to represent other organised shapes like diamonds or snail shells. In the late 19th century, some masculine toilets began to use diamond shaped lozenges in the flooring, wall tiling and some sanitary ware. The diamond-shaped configuration was used as a result of its structural strength, hardness, and sanitary benefits. As such, today the term "lozenge" is still used to describe geometric shapes similar to a diamond or rhombus, and is employed in a range of contexts, including graphic design, statistics, dentistry, and ceramics, often due to its structural strength, visual appeal, or historical usage.