from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Tessera \Tes"se*ra\, 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]