boustrophedon

American  

[boo-struh-feed-n, -fee-don, bou-] / ˌbu strəˈfid n, -ˈfi dɒn, ˌbaʊ- /

noun

1. an ancient method of writing in which the lines run alternately from right to left and from left to right.

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boustrophedon British  

/ ˌbuːstrəˈfiːdən, ˌbaʊ- /

adjective

1. having alternate lines written from right to left and from left to right

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Etymology

Origin of boustrophedon

First recorded in 1775–85; from Greek boustrophēdón literally, “like an ox turning (in plowing),” equivalent to bou- (stem of boûs ) “bull, cow, ox” + -strophē- + -don adverb suffix; see origin at cow ¹ ( def. ), strophe

Example Sentences

The word boustrophedon combines the Greek terms for ox and turn, an echo of the back-and-forth plowing algorithm that was undoubtedly reinvented thousands of times as agriculture overspread much of the world.

From Slate • Dec. 1, 2015

You dimly discern the majestic form of a venerable man stooping above a coffer of cedar and ivory, carved with the exploits of the goddess, and with boustrophedon inscriptions.

From Books and Bookmen by Lang, Andrew

It is noteworthy that the inscriptions, with the exception of the bowl brought from Babylon, are all in relief and boustrophedon.

From The Old Testament In the Light of The Historical Records and Legends of Assyria and Babylonia by Pinches, Theophilus Goldridge