album

[In Fr. album; Lat. album = the colour white, anything white. Among the Romans, specially (1) the tablets on wluch the Pontifex Maxnnus registered the chief events of the year; (2) those on which the edicts of the Prætor were inscribed; (3) any register.] A. Formerly: 1. In ancient times : In the senses mentioned in the ctymology. 2. In the Middle Ages: (a) A register of saints; a muster-roll of soldiers. (b) An ordinary letter. (c) Rent paid in silver. [ALBA FIRMA.] B. Now : A book tastefully bound, and kept chiefly by ladies to be filled, as opportunity presents itself, with scraps of poetry, or autographs, or anything similar.