# cartouche

> English word · Noun · IPA /kɑːˈtuːʃ/ · frequency rank #71,381

## Definitions
1. An ornamental figure, often on an oval shield.
2. An oval figure containing the characters of an important personal name, such as that of royal or divine people.
3. A decorative emblem on a globe or map.
4. A paper cartridge.
5. A wooden case filled with balls, to be shot from a cannon.
6. A gunner's bag for ammunition.
7. A military pass for a soldier on furlough.
8. A parchment disc placed on top of food to limit evaporation, or to prevent a skin forming on soups and stews.

## Etymology
Borrowed from French cartouche, from Italian cartuccia, from carta, from Latin charta, from Ancient Greek χάρτης (khártēs). Doublet of cartridge.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/cartouche