What is a "chaplet"?
The term "chaplet" is somewhat interchangeable with that of "rosary". It is simply defined as a "circlet or string of beads", but is most often used to describe the smaller single decade rosaries and the various approved configurations of beads used to honor Our Lord, Mary, and the many saints. The small size of these chaplets make them the perfect thing to keep in pocket or purse and pull out on a busy day for a quick moment of prayer.
So what is a "tenner"?
During the Middle Ages in Europe, many of the prayer beads were made in the form of an open string instead of a closed loop. The word "tenner", of course, refers to the ten beads used for a single decade rosary. The original tenner was probably "Irish Penal Rosary" but today the term is used for any single decade rosary, but most commonly those constructed in the open string format.
Copyright © 2004 Alice Cantrell
(The above definitions and descriptions (Copyright 2004) were written by Alice Cantrell and used first on our original website.)