Torc

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A heavy twisted metal neck ring worn by ancient Celtic peoples as a sign of rank or status
2. An ancient Celtic collar of twisted gold or bronze, often worn around the neck by warriors and nobles
3. A rigid circular neckband of twisted metal, traditionally worn in Celtic and Iron Age cultures

Etymology: The word "torc" is simply an alternative spelling of "torque", and the two are the same word in every sense. Its story begins with the Latin verb "torquēre", meaning "to twist", which gave Latin the noun "torquēs" for a chaplet, collar or necklace of twisted metal, a ring or wreath. The ancient object predates the word's English life. Celtic peoples of Europe and Britain wore these heavy, twisted neck rings, and the Latin name was adopted to describe them. English took the word from French "torque", which itself came from Old French and ultimately from Latin "torquis", so the English term is a borrowing from the classical world used for a Celtic artefact. The physical sense of a twisting collar also gave rise to the technical "torque" of mechanics, a turning force, which is why the same word can describe both a golden neck ring and the twist of a spanner.

Synonyms: torque, neck ring, collar