in fabulous history, a dreadful three-headed mastiff, born of Typhon and Echidna, and placed to guard the gates of hell. He fawned upon those who entered, but devoured all who attempted to get back. He was, however, mastered by Hercules, who dragged him up to the earth, when, in struggling, a foam dropped from his mouth, which produced the poisonous herb called acanto or wolf's-bane.

CERCLE, in heraldry: a cross cercle is a cross, which opening at the ends, turns round both ways like a ram's horn. See CROSS.