phallus

[fal-uh s]

noun, plural phal·li [fal-ahy] /ˈfæl aɪ/, phal·lus·es.

an image of the male reproductive organ, especially that carried in procession in ancient festivals of Dionysus, or Bacchus, symbolizing the generative power in nature.

Anatomy. the penis, the clitoris, or the sexually undifferentiated embryonic organ out of which either of these develops.

Origin of phallus

1605–15; < Latin < Greek phallós penis

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for phallus

Contemporary Examples of phallus

But nobody can look at that diagram and think about anything other than an impressively sized phallus.
11 News Anchor Flubs: Tom Brokaw on Ambien, Weather Penis, and More
Alec Kubas-Meyer
December 18, 2013
Recently, a Photoshopped picture of conservative pundit S.E. Cupp with a phallus in her mouth was printed in Hustler magazine.
Meghan McCain: Cut It Out, Internet Bullies!
Meghan McCain
May 27, 2012
They share the same last name, wavy hair, sly grin—and fascination with the phallus.
21 Jump Street: Meet Dave Franco, James Franco’s Hot Brother
Ramin Setoodeh
March 15, 2012

Historical Examples of phallus

It's a sort of Phallus worship that always was and always will be.
Secret Memoirs: The Story of Louise, Crown Princess
Henry W. Fischer
Which was the more worthy of deification—the yoni, or the phallus?
Sex=The Unknown Quantity
Ali Nomad
This is not a criticism of the phallus on grounds of obscenity, but on grounds of buffoonery.
Folkways
William Graham Sumner
At Rome the phallus was an amulet and was worn by all children.
Folkways
William Graham Sumner
The head of the phallus was enlivened with the face of a saint.
Fantazius Mallare
Ben Hecht

British Dictionary definitions for phallus

phallus

noun plural -luses or -li (-laɪ)

another word for penis

an image of the penis, esp as a religious symbol of reproductive power

Word Origin for phallus

C17: via Late Latin from Greek phallos

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 phallus

1610s, "an image of the penis," from Latin phallus, from Greek phallos "penis," also "carving or image of an erect penis (symbolizing the generative power in nature) used in the cult of Dionysus," from PIE *bhel-no-, from root *bhel- (2) "to blow, inflate, swell" (cf. Old Norse boli "bull," Old English bulluc "little bull," and possibly Greek phalle "whale;" see bole). Used of the penis itself (often in symbolic context) from 1924, originally in jargon of psychoanalysis.

phallus in Medicine

phallus

[făl′əs]

n. pl. phal•lus•es

The penis.

The sexually undifferentiated tissue in an embryo that becomes the penis or clitoris.

The immature penis considered in psychoanalysis as the libidinal object of infantile sexuality in the male.