transˈversary, a. and n.
[ad. L. transversāri-us lying across: see transverse and -ary. Cf. F. transversaire (Littré).]
† A. adj. Transverse. Obs. rare—1.
| c 1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 148 Þe wesant..haþ noon [brawnys] transuersarie, þat is to seie goynge ouerþwert, for wiþholdynge is not nedeful to him. |
B. n.
† 1. The transverse beam or member of a cross. Obs. rare—1. [L. transversarium crossbeam.]
| a 1608 Dee Relat. Spir. i. (1659) 185 Neither of the letters in the Transversary of the black Crosse. |
2. A cross-piece or vane of a cross-staff. Hist.
| 1594 J. Davis Seaman's Secr. (1607) 17 Your staffe so ordered, then moue the transversary upon your staffe to and fro as occasion requireth. 1638 Oughtred in Rigaud Corr. Sci. Men (1841) I. 31 For setting the degrees on the transversary. 1879 A. Geikie in Encycl. Brit. X. 187/1 The cross-staff was a very simple instrument, consisting of a graduated pole with cross pieces, called transversaries.., also graduated, which were fitted to work on it. |