triskelion

English

The Sicilian triskelion featuring the winged head of Medusa with three ears of corn protruding from it, on the flag of Sicily.

The armoured triskelion on the flag of the Isle of Man.

Etymology

Coined c. 1881, as a diminutive of triskeles, specifically in numismatics to refer to minuscule forms of the symbol found on ancient coins. No direct derivation from Katharevousa τρισκέλιον (triskélion, “three-legged stool; rule of three, analogy”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /trɑɪˈskɛ.li.ən/, /trɪˈskɛ.li.ən/

• Audio (Southern England):

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• Audio (Southern England):

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Noun

triskelion (plural triskelions or triskelia)

1. A figure composed of three interlocked spirals (or three bent human legs), with threefold rotational symmetry.

   Sicily and the Isle of Man use triskelia as their emblems.

Synonyms

• triskeles

Translations

figure composed of three interlocked spirals, or three bent human legs

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 三曲腳圖 / 三曲脚图 (sānqūjiǎotú)

• Dutch: triskelion n
• French: triskèle (fr) f
• German: Triskele (de) f
• Hungarian: triszkelion (hu)
• Italian: triscele (it) m, trinacria (it) f, triquetra (it) f
• Sicilian: trìscili m or f, triskelion m, trinàcria f
• Swedish: triskele (sv) c

Dutch

Noun

triskelion n (plural triskelions, diminutive triskelionnetje n)

1. triskelion; a figure composed of three interlocked spirals (or three bent human legs), with threefold rotational symmetry

   Synonyms: trinacrie, triskel, triskele