%tessera%

‖n.; pl. Tesserae [ L., a square piece, a die. See Tessellar. ] A small piece of marble, glass, earthenware, or the like, having a square, or nearly square, face, used by the ancients for mosaic, as for making pavements, for ornamenting walls, and like purposes; also, a similar piece of ivory, bone, wood, etc., used as a ticket of admission to theaters, or as a certificate for successful gladiators, and as a token for various other purposes. Fairholt. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Diversified by squares; done in mosaic; tessellated. [ Obs. ] Sir R. Atkyns (1712). [ 1913 Webster ]