naumachia

[ naw-mey-kee-uh ]

noun,plural nau·ma·chi·ae [naw-mey-kee-ee], /nɔˈmeɪ kiˌi/, nau·ma·chi·as.
  1. a mock sea fight, given as a spectacle among the ancient Romans.

  2. a place for presenting such spectacles.

Origin of naumachia

1
1590–1600; <Latin: mock naval battle <Greek naumachía a sea fight, equivalent to naû(s) ship + mách(ē) battle, fight + -ia-ia

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British Dictionary definitions for naumachia

naumachia

naumachy (ˈnɔːməkɪ)

/ (nɔːˈmeɪkɪə) /


nounplural -chiae (-kɪˌiː), -chias or -chies (in ancient Rome)
  1. a mock sea fight performed as an entertainment

  2. an artificial lake used in such a spectacle

Origin of naumachia

1
C16: via Latin from Greek naumakhia, from naus ship + makhē battle

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012