Where does “aspidochelone” come from?
aspidochelone (English) comes from Ancient Greek ἀσπιδοχελώνη, from Ancient Greek ἀσπίς, from Proto-Indo-European h₂esp- — to cut.
aspidochelone (English): A fabled sea creature according to the tradition of the Physiologus and medieval bestiaries, variously described as a large whale or vast sea turtle, and a giant sea monster with huge spines on the ridge of its back. It is often mistaken for an island, enticing unwitting sailors and drowning them
Definitions
- A fabled sea creature according to the tradition of the Physiologus and medieval bestiaries, variously described as a large whale or vast sea turtle, and a giant sea monster with huge spines on the ridge of its back. It is often mistaken for an island, enticing unwitting sailors and drowning them
Ancestry of “aspidochelone”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ancient Greek | ἀσπιδοχελώνη | aspidochelone |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | ἀσπίς | shield; collective, body of men-at-arms; on the... |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂esp- | to cut |