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boustrophedon

[boo-struh-feed-n, -fee-don, bou-]
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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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Origin of boustrophedon

1775–85; < Greek boustrophēdón literally, like ox-turning (in plowing), equivalent to bou- (stem of boûs) ox + -strophē- (see strophe) + -don adv. suffix
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for boustrophedon

Historical Examples

  • It is written in the most ancient Greek characters, and in the Boustrophedon manner.

    Museum of Antiquity

    L. W. Yaggy

  • The words of the text are ranged in squares in such a manner as to be read either vertically or boustrophedon.

British Dictionary definitions for boustrophedon

boustrophedon

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

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

Word Origin and History for boustrophedon

n.

1783, ancient form of writing with lines alternately written left-to-right and right-to-left, from Greek, literally "turning as an ox in plowing," from bous "ox" (see cow (n.)) + strephein "to turn" (see strophe).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper