taurokathapsia

noun plural but singular in construction

tau·​ro·​ka·​thap·​sia

ˌtȯrəkəˈthapsēə

: an ancient Cretan sport in which a performer grasps the horns of a bull and somersaults over him

Word History

Etymology

Greek, from tauros + kathaptos (verbal of kathaptein to fasten upon, attack, from kata- cata- + haptein to fasten) + -ia -y

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!