Cordelier

Charles Buck Theological Dictionary

A Franciscan, or religious of the order of St. Francis. The denomination cordelier, is said to have been given in the war of St. Lewis against the infidels, wherein the friars minor having repulsed the barbarians, and that king having enquired their name, it was answered, they were people cordeliez, "tied with ropes;" alluding to the girdle of rope, or cord, ties with three knots, which they wore as part of their habit.

Webster's Dictionary

(1): (n.) A Franciscan; - so called in France from the girdle of knotted cord worn by all Franciscans.

(2): (n.) A member of a French political club of the time of the first Revolution, of which Danton and Marat were members, and which met in an old Cordelier convent in Paris.