among painters, a little oval table, or piece of wood or ivory, very thin and smooth; on and round which the painters place the several colours they have occasion for, to be ready for the pencil. The middle serves to mix the colours on, and to make the tints required in the work. It has no handle, but, instead thereof, a hole at one end to put the thumb through to hold it.

among potters, crucible makers, &c. a wooden instrument, almost the only one they use, for forming, beating, and rounding their works. They have several kinds: the largest are oval, with a handle; others are round, or hollowed triangularly; others, in fine, are in manner of large knives, serving to cut off whatever is superfluous on the moulds of their work.

in gilding, an instrument made of a squirrel's tail, to take up the gold leaves from the pillow, and to apply and extend them on the matter to be gilt. See GILDING.

in Heraldry, is nothing but a small pale, consisting of one half of it in breadth, and therefore there are sometimes several of them upon one shield.

is also a part belonging to the balance of a watch or movement. See the article WATCH.