What is GLOSSA

Lat. A gloss, explanation , or interpretation . The glossce of the Roman laware brief illustrative comments or annotations on the text of Justinian’s collections,made by the professors who taught or lectured on them about the twelfth century,(especially at the law school of Bologna,) and were hence called “glossators.” Theseglosses were at first inserted in the text with the words to which they referred, andwere called “glosscB intcrlineares;” but afterwards they were placed in the margin,partly at the side, and partly under the text, and called “glossce marginales.” Aselection of them was made by Accursius, between A. D. 1220 and 12G0, under the titleof “Olossa Ordin- aria,” which is of the greatest authority. Mackeld. Rom. Law,