CIPHER, or CYPHER, one of the Arabic characters or figures used in computation, formed thus, 0. See ARITHMETIC.
CIPHER is also a kind of enigmatic character composed of several letters interwoven, which are generally the initial letters of the persons names for whom
the ciphers are intended. These are frequently used on seals, coaches, and other moveables.—Anciently, merchants and tradesmen were not allowed to bear arms: in lieu thereof, they bore their ciphers, or the initial letters of their names, artfully interwoven about a cross, of which we have divers instances on tombs, &c. See DEVICE.