What is "vernacle"

Vernacle \Ver"na*cle\, n. See Veronica, 1. [Obs.]

Veronica \Ve*ron"i*ca\, n. [LL.; -- so called from Veronica, a woman who, according to an old legend, as Christ was carrying the cross, wiped his face with a cloth, which received an impression of his countenance; Veronica is fr. MGr. ?, fr. Macedonian ?, for Gr. ?, literally, carrying off victory, victorious.]

1. A portrait or representation of the face of our Savior on the alleged handkerchief of Saint Veronica, preserved at Rome; hence, a representation of this portrait, or any similar representation of the face of the Savior. Formerly called also Vernacle, and Vernicle.

2. (Bot.) A genus scrophulariaceous plants; the speedwell. See Speedwell.

   Note: Several herbaceous species are common in both Europe and America, most of which have small blue flowers. A few shrubby species from New Zealand are sometimes found in cultivation.

n. (context obsolete English) A veronica (image of Jesus).