boustrophedon

[ boo-struh-feed-n, -fee-don, bou- ]

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

Origin of boustrophedon

1
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 cow1, strophe

Words Nearby boustrophedon

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British Dictionary definitions for boustrophedon

boustrophedon

/ (ˌbuːstrəˈfiːdən, ˌbaʊ-) /


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

Origin of boustrophedon

1
C17: from Greek, literally: turning as in ploughing with oxen, from bous ox + -strophēdon from strephein to turn; see strophe

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