boustrophedon etymology

Etymology:

  • From Ancient Greek βουστροφηδόν (boustrophēdón), literally "ox-turning".

Meaning:

  • A form of writing in which lines alternate in direction, like the path of an ox plowing a field. The first line is written from left to right, the second from right to left, and so on.

Origin:

  • The term "boustrophedon" was first used in Ancient Greece to describe the writing style employed on ancient inscriptions and coins. This style was commonly used in early Greek scripts, such as Linear B and Archaic Greek.
  • The name "ox-turning" comes from the resemblance of the alternating lines to the path of an ox plowing a field. As the ox moved in one direction while plowing, it would turn at the end of the furrow and return in the opposite direction.
  • Boustrophedon writing was common in Ancient Greece from the 8th to the 5th centuries B.C.E. However, by the 4th century B.C.E., it had largely been replaced by the more standardized left-to-right writing system that is still used today.
  • In modern times, boustrophedon writing is sometimes used for decorative or calligraphic purposes.

boustrophedon relate terms

  • beef

    Etymology The word beef is derived from the Old French word boeuf which itself comes

  • Boeotian

    Etymology The term Boeotian derives from the Greek word Βοιωτός Boiotos whic

  • Bosphorus

    Etymology From Greek Βόσπορος Bósporos from βοῦς boûs ox cow

  • boustrophedon

    Etymology From Ancient Greek βουστροφηδόν boustrophēdón literally ox

  • bovine

    Etymology The word bovine comes from the Latin word bovinus which means of or belon

  • bugle

    The Bugle Etymology Meaning and Origin Etymology The word bugle is derived from the

  • Bucephalus

    Etymology Bucephalus Greek Βουκέφαλος Boukephalos Meaning Ox s head

  • bucolic

    Etymology The word bucolic comes from the Latin word bucolicus which in turn derives

  • buffalo

    Etymology The term buffalo is derived from the Latin word bubalus which in turn ori

  • bugloss

    Etymology The word bugloss derives from the Greek words bous ὀξύς and glossa

  • bulimia

    Etymology Bulimia is derived from two Greek words Boús bous meaning ox or cow

  • butane

    Etymology The word butane is derived from the following sources Propanoic acid A th

  • butter

    Etymology The word butter comes from the Latin butyrum which is derived from the Gre

  • butyl

    Etymology Butyl derives from the New Latin word butylum meaning radicle of butyl

  • butyric

    Etymology The word butyric is derived from the Greek word bouteyrón meaning butte

  • cowbell

    Etymology The word cowbell is derived from the following roots Cow Referring to

  • cowboy

    Etymology The word cowboy is derived from the Spanish word vaquero which means cow

  • cowlick

    Etymology The word cowlick is derived from the Old English word cowlic which referre

  • cowslip

    Etymology The word cowslip has two possible etymologies Cow s lip From the shape of

  • Euboea

    Etymology of Euboea The name Euboea has uncertain origins and has been interpreted in v

  • Gurkha

    Etymology The term Gurkha comes from the name of the Gurung people an indigenous eth

  • hecatomb

    Etymology of Hecatomb The word hecatomb is derived from the Ancient Greek words ἑ

  • kine

    Etymology The word kine comes from the Old English word cynn meaning kind or rac

  • strepto

    Etymology Greek streptos meaning twisted or bent Meaning Relating to a grou

  • anastrophe

    Etymology Anastrophe is a Greek word meaning a turning around an inversion It is de

  • antistrophe

    Etymology Greek ἀντίστροφος antistrophos meaning turning against or

  • apostrophe

    Etymology The word apostrophe is derived from the Greek word apostrophos which means

  • apostrophe

    Etymology The word apostrophe is derived from the Greek word apostrophos which means

  • boustrophedon

    Etymology From Ancient Greek βουστροφηδόν boustrophēdón literally ox

  • catastrophe

    Etymology The word catastrophe comes from the Ancient Greek καταστροφή ka

  • epistrophe

    Etymology Epistrophe originates from the Greek word epistrophe which means turning t

  • strabismus

    Etymology Latin strabismus from Greek στράβισμος strabismos meaning squ

  • strap

    Etymology The word strap comes from the Middle English word strappe which is derive

  • strep

    Etymology The word strep is derived from the Latin word strepto which means to twi

  • strepto

    Etymology Greek streptos meaning twisted or bent Meaning Relating to a grou

  • streptococcus

    Etymology and Meaning of Streptococcus Strepto Greek for twisted or chain coccus

  • streptomycin

    Etymology Streptomycin is a portmanteau of Streptomyces the genus of the bacterium that

  • strobe

    Etymology The word strobe comes from the Greek word strobos which means whirlwind

  • strobic

    Etymology Derived from the Greek word strobos meaning a whirling or something twi

  • stroboscope

    Etymology Greek strobos whirling skopein to see Meaning and Origin A strobo

  • strop

    Etymology Old English stropp a strip of leather Middle English strope a strap o

  • strophe

  • strophic

    Etymology Strophic is derived from the Greek word strophos which means a turn or a

  • orthography

    Etymology ortho Greek right correct graphe Greek writing Meaning Orth

  • soda

    Etymology The word soda originates from the Arabic term suwwad or sawda which mea

  • expose

    Etymology Expose comes from the Latin word exponere which means to set forth or to

  • plantation

    Etymology Old French plantation from Latin plantātiō from plantāre to plant

  • virtue

    Etymology Latin virtus Proto Indo European u̯ir meaning man hero Meaning

  • Druid

    Etymology The word druid derives from the Proto Celtic word druwid which is of uncer

  • trivial

    Etymology The term trivial is derived from the Latin word trivialis which means per

  • mentor

    Etymology The word mentor is derived from the Greek name Méntōr who was a wise and

  • experience

    Etymology The word experience comes from the Old French word esprover which in turn

  • serve

    Etymology From Middle English serven from Old French servir from Latin servīre to