quincunx

[ kwing-kuhngks, kwin- ]
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noun
  1. an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.

  2. Botany. an overlapping arrangement of five petals or leaves, in which two are interior, two are exterior, and one is partly interior and partly exterior.

Origin of quincunx

1
1640–50; <Latin: five twelfths (quinc-, variant of quīnque-quinque- + uncia twelfth; see ounce1); originally a Roman coin worth five twelfths of an as and marked with a quincunx of spots

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British Dictionary definitions for quincunx

quincunx

/ (ˈkwɪnkʌŋks) /


noun
  1. a group of five objects arranged in the shape of a rectangle with one at each of the four corners and the fifth in the centre

  2. botany a quincuncial arrangement of sepals or petals in the bud

  1. astrology an aspect of 150° between two planets

Origin of quincunx

1
C17: from Latin: five twelfths, from quinque five + uncia twelfth; in ancient Rome, this was a coin worth five twelfths of an as ² and marked with five spots

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