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C — Coroner to Corpuscularian (Part 1 of 6)

Coroner
(Cor"o*ner) n. [From OE. coronen to crown, OF. coroner, fr. L. coronare, fr. corona crown. Formed as a translation of LL. coronator coroner, fr. L. corona crown, the coroner having been originally a prosecuting officer of the crown. See Crown.] An officer of the peace whose principal duty is to inquire, with the help of a jury, into the cause of any violent, sudden or mysterious death, or death in prison, usually on sight of the body and at the place where the death occurred. [In England formerly also written and pronounced crowner.]

In some of the United States the office of coroner is abolished, that of medical examiner taking its place.

Coroner's inquest. See under Inquest.

Coronet
(Cor"o*net) n. [Dim. of OE. corone crown; cf. OF. coronete. See Crown, and cf. Crownet, Cronet.]

1. An ornamental or honorary headdress, having the shape and character of a crown; particularly, a crown worn as the mark of high rank lower than sovereignty. The word is used by Shakespeare to denote also a kingly crown.

Without a star, a coronet, or garter.
Goldsmith.

The coronet of the Prince of Wales consist of a circlet of gold with four crosses pattée around the edge between as many fleurs-de-lis. The center crosses are connected by an arch which is surmounted by a globe or cross. The coronet of a British duke is adorned with strawberry leaves; that of a marquis has leaves with pearls interposed; that of an earl raises the pearls above the leaves; that of a viscount is surrounded with pearls only; that of a baron has only four pearls.

2. (Far.) The upper part of a horse's hoof, where the horn terminates in skin. James White.

3. (Anc. Armor) The iron head of a tilting spear; a coronel. Crose.

Coroneted
(Cor"o*net*ed) a.Wearing, or entitled to wear, a coronet; of noble birth or rank.

Coroniform
(Co*ron"i*form) a. [L. corona crown + -form.] Having the form of a crown or coronet; resembling a crown.

Coronilla
(Cor`o*nil"la) n. [NL., fr. L. corona crown: cf. F. coronille.] (Bot.) A genus of plants related to the clover, having their flowers arranged in little heads or tufts resembling coronets.

Coronis
(Co*ro"nis) n. [Gr. korwni`s anything curved. See Cornice.]

1. In Greek grammar, a sign ['] sometimes placed over a contracted syllable. W. W. Goodwin.

2. The curved line or flourish at the end of a book or chapter; hence, the end. [R.] Bp. Hacket.

Coronoid
(Cor"o*noid) a. [Gr. korw`nh crow + -oid: cf. F. coronoïde.] (Anat.) Resembling the beak of a crow; as, the coronoid process of the jaw, or of the ulna.

Coronule
(Cor"o*nule) n. [L. coronula, dim. of corona crown.] (Bot.) A coronet or little crown of a seed; the downy tuft on seeds. See Pappus. Martyn.

Coroun
(Co*roun") v. & n. Crown. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Corozo
(||Co*ro"zo ||Co*ros"so) (k?-r?"th? or - s?), n. [Cf. Sp. cerozo a kind of palm tree.] The name in Central America for the seed of a true palm; also, a commercial name for the true ivory nut. See Ivory nut.