Nearby words
phi, phi beta kappa, phi bete, phi-function, phi-phenomenon, phial, phiale, phialine, phialophora, phibbi, phichol
Origin of phial
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin phiala saucer < Greek phiálē; replacing Middle English phiole, fiole < Middle French fiole < Latin, as above
Related formsphi·al·ine [fahy-uh-lin, -lahyn] /ˈfaɪ ə lɪn, -ˌlaɪn/, adjective
Can be confusedfile phial
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for phial
British Dictionary definitions for phial
phial
/ (ˈfaɪəl) /
noun
a small bottle for liquids; vial
Word Origin for phial
C14: from Old French fiole, from Latin phiola saucer, from Greek phialē wide shallow vessel
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for phial
phial
late 14c., from Old French fiole "flask, phial" (12c.), probably from Medieval Latin phiola, from Latin phiala, from Greek phiale "broad, flat drinking vessel," of unknown origin.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper