pentacle

Etymology

PIE word *pénkʷe From Middle French pentacle, from Old French pentacol, from pent (“hangs”), a (“from”), and col (“neck”), thus "hangs from neck".

noun

1. A flat talisman, almost always star-shaped, made of parchment, sheet metal, or other substance, marked with a magic symbol or symbols, used in magical evocation.
   ouer this pott and the cyrcle hold the pentacles, and perfume them; and say deuoutly theis psalmes followynge mid- to late-16th century, British Library Additional manuscript 36674, London
   of the same pentacles be certayne exorcizmes and names ineffable and carecters and signes of all the science, therefore, in them the whole science of all this art lyeth hydd 1572, The Clavicle of Solomon, revealed by Ptolomy the Grecian [British Library Sloane MS 3847], London
   if ye constraine any spirit to come before you and when ye haue shewed him ye secret pentacles, there is none dare say against your minde 1572, The Clavicle of Solomon, revealed by Ptolomy the Grecian [British Library Sloane MS 3847], London
2. (Wicca) A pentagram, or a disk with a pentagram on it, especially one that is used for magical or mystical purposes.
   he drew a pentacle or five-pointed star. 1949, Gerald Gardner, chapter 10, in High Magic's Aid, page 92
   a five-pointed star (pentacle). 1954, Gerald Gardner, chapter 12, in Witchcraft Today
   the figure of the pentacle, or pentagram. 1959, Gerald Gardner, chapter 8, in The Meaning of Witchcraft, page 122
3. (Wicca) A circumscribed pentagram.
   The pentacle—a pentagram enclosed within a surrounding circle—as found as the centre-piece on a witch's altar is often worn as a silver pendant by witches and other neo-pagans alike repesenting their beliefs in the interconnectedness and interdependence of the powers of nature and spirit. 2002, Kevin Saunders, Wiccan Spirituality: A Magical Attitude for the 21st Century, London: Green Magic, →OCLC, page 57
   A pentacle is a pentagram with a circle drawn around it. 2006, Denise Zimmermann, Gleason, Katherine, Liguana, Maria, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Wicca and Witchcraft, Indianapolis: Alpha, →LCCN, →OCLC, LCC BF1566.Z55 2006, page 146
   The pentagram becomes a pentacle when it is enclosed within a circle and inscribed on a disc or stone. 2007-03-01, Ruth Barr, chapter 5, in Women's Rites, Women's Mysteries: Intuitive Ritual Creation, 2nd edition, Woodbury: Llewellyn Publications, →LCCN, →OCLC, LCC BL625.7.B39 2007, page 93
4. A figure formed by two equilateral triangles intersecting regularly so as to form a six-pointed star.