The term apostrophe is the best analogy I can think of for modern English speakers who aren't familiar with medieval Latin scribal conventions. I often use the term "macron" as well but I always worry some readers might not know it.
They do actually use the word "apostrophe" in some of the palaeography glossaries, but to my mind, the modern word doesn't really convey the great variety of shapes and uses that existed in medieval script. To really get the concept across, it helps to include examples.
They do actually use the word "apostrophe" in some of the palaeography glossaries, but to my mind, the modern word doesn't really convey the great variety of shapes and uses that existed in medieval script. To really get the concept across, it helps to include examples.