ostracon
or os·tra·kon
[ os-truh-kon ]
/ ˈɒs trəˌkɒn /
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noun, plural os·tra·ca [os-truh-kuh]. /ˈɒs trə kə/.
(in ancient Greece) a potsherd, especially one used as a ballot on which the name of a person voted to be ostracized was inscribed.
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON PARENTHESES AND BRACKETS APLENTY!
Set some time apart to test your bracket symbol knowledge, and see if you can keep your parentheses, squares, curlies, and angles all straight!
Question 1 of 7
Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?
First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.
First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.
First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT Origin of ostracon
1880–85; <Greek óstrakon;see ostracize
Words nearby ostracon
Ostpreussen, ostracism, ostracize, ostracod, ostracoderm, ostracon, ostrakon, ostranenie, Ostrava, ostrich, ostrich fern
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
British Dictionary definitions for ostracon
ostracon
/ (ˈɒstrəˌkɒn) /
noun
(in ancient Greece) a potsherd used for ostracizing
Word Origin for ostracon
from Greek
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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