strigil

American  

[strij-uhl] / ˈstrɪdʒ əl /

noun

1. an instrument with a curved blade, used especially by the ancient Greeks and Romans for scraping the skin at the bath and in the gymnasium.

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strigil British  

/ ˈstrɪdʒɪl /

noun

1. a curved blade used by the ancient Romans and Greeks to scrape the body after bathing

2. architect a decorative fluting, esp one in the shape of the letter S as used in Roman architecture

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Other Word Forms

• strigilate adjective

Etymology

Origin of strigil

1575–85; < Latin strigilis, akin to stringere to touch lightly; streak, strike

Example Sentences

Next they would move to the brightly-painted warm room, where oil would be rubbed into the skin, before being scraped off with a curved instrument called a strigil.

From BBC

In her hand, they have almost unanimously perceived a strigil, an ancient bathing tool for scraping filth from the body.

From Salon

Another holds a sponge for oils and a strigil, an instrument for scraping oil and sweat from the body.

From New York Times

Customers at ancient Roman bathhouses attended poetry readings once they had cleansed pores with strigil scrapings.

From New York Times

She rubbed her with oil, scraped her with a strigil, scrubbed her hands and feet with pumice, and washed her hair, pouring jug after jug of water over her.

From Literature