lecythus

noun

lec·​y·​thus

ˈlesəthəs

variants or lekythos

ˈlekəˌthäs

or less commonly lekythus

-kəthəs

plural lecythi

-səˌthī

or lekythoi

-kəˌthȯi

: a cylindrical or round and squat vase used by the ancient Greeks for oils and ointments

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin & Greek; Late Latin lecythus, from Greek lēkythos, probably of non-Indo-European origin

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!