naumachia
[ naw-mey-kee-uh ]
noun,plural nau·ma·chi·ae [naw-mey-kee-ee], /nɔˈmeɪ kiˌi/, nau·ma·chi·as.
a mock sea fight, given as a spectacle among the ancient Romans.
a place for presenting such spectacles.
Origin of naumachia
11590–1600; <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)
a mock sea fight performed as an entertainment
an artificial lake used in such a spectacle
Origin of naumachia
1C16: 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
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