A greate thing of stone or other matter broade and foure square beneath, vp wardes small and sharpe: a steple. Forma pyramidis. Cic.

A yong man of Babylon, betweene whome and a mayden named Thishe, was passing great loue, contrary to the willes of their parents: by whome they were so diligÊtly kept, that not with standing their houses loyned togither, they could not eche enioy others company. Wherefore by an hole in the wall they agreede both in the night to steale out of their fathers houses, and meete at a certayne place in the field. Thither came first Thysbe, who being in great feare of a Lyonesse that she efpyed by the Moone light, ranne into a caue thereby, and for haste did let fall her vpper garment, which the beast did rent and teare in peeces. Not long after (while Thysbe was yet in the Caue) Pyramus comming to the place appoynted, and seeing his loues garment torne and bloudie, thinking she had bene destroyed by some wilde beaste, for sorrowe drew out his sworde and slue himselfe. Thysbe, when hir feare was past, comming from the place, where as she hidde hirseife, and espying Pyramus in suche maner slaine, and the life not yet cleane out of his body, surmising how the matter came to passe, with many teares pitifully bewayling both their fortunes, with the same sworde ended hir life, wherwith not long before be had killed himselfe, for whase loue she came thither. Pyramus is also a Riuer in Cilicia.

II. Transf., a geometrical solid figure, a pyramid, Boëth. Arith. 2, 21 sqq.