phalanx

English

/ˈfeɪ.ˌlæŋks/

noun
Definitions
  • (historical) An ancient Greek and Macedonian military unit that consisted of several ranks and files (lines) of soldiers in close array with joined shields and long spears.
  • (historical sociology) A Fourierite utopian community; a phalanstery.
  • (plural phalanxes) A large group of people, animals or things, compact or closely massed, or tightly knit and united in common purpose.
  • (skeleton) One of the bones of the finger or toe.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin phalanx borrowed from Ancient Greek φάλαγξ (battle order, array, log, etc, body of soldiers, trunk, phalanx, battle array, stem).

Origin

Ancient Greek

φάλαγξ

Gloss

battle order, array, log, etc, body of soldiers, trunk, phalanx, battle array, stem

Kanji

茎

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms