[It. contorno circuit, CONTOUR, f. contornare to turn together, compass about, put a thing round another (cf. med.L. contornāre to round off well), f. L. con- + tornāre to turn in a lathe, round off, make round, f. tornus a turning-lathe.] Contour, outline of a statue or other work of art.
1758. Johnson, Idler, No. 76, ¶ 3. His mouth full of … the sublimity and grand contorno or Michael Angelo.
1781. Mad. D’Arblay, Diary, I. 325. For a background and contorno, who comes up to Mrs. Thrale?
