(from κερος, stitched, embroidered), the zone or girdle of Venus, to which Homer ascribes the power of captivating the affections. It was the marriage-girdle of the Greeks and Romans; among whom the ceremony of unloosing the cestus of the bride on the nuptial night was performed by the husband of the bride. The word is sometimes written cestus.

CESTUS also denoted a boxer's glove, as described under CESTUS, and BOXING.