or CASQUE, a piece of defensive armour wherewith to cover the head and neck; otherwise called the head-piece and helmet*. The word is French casque, from cafficum or cafficus, a diminutive of caffis "a helmet." Le Gendre observes, that anciently, in France, the gens d'armes all wore casques. The king wore a casque gilt; the dukes and counts silvered; gentlemen of extraction polished steel; and the rest plain iron.

The casque is frequently seen on ancient medals, where we may observe great varieties in the form and fashion thereof; as the Greek fashion, the Roman fashion, &c. F. Joubert makes it the most ancient of all the coverings of the head, as well as the most universal. Kings, emperors, and even gods themselves, are seen therewith. That which covers the head of Rome has usually two wings like those of Mercury; and that of some kings is furnished with horns like those of Jupiter Ammon; and sometimes barely bulls or rams horns, to express uncommon force.

Heraldry, the same with helmet. See Heraldry, No 45.

vessel of capacity, for preserving liquors of divers kinds; and sometimes also dry goods, as sugar, almonds, almonds, &c.—A cask of sugar is a barrel of that commodity, containing from eight to eleven hundred weight. A cask of almonds is about three hundred weight.