syrtis en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /sərtəz/
Etymology
From Latin syrtis, from Syrtis (“Sirte, Gulf of Syrtis”), from Ancient Greek Σύρτις (Súrtis), an area of Libya proverbially treacherous for sailing owing to the effect of wind and waves on its quicksand. Doublet of Sirte.
Meanings
- (archaic) Synonym of quicksand.
-
(archaic) Synonym of bog.
... Quenched in a boggy syrtis, neither sea Nor good dry land ...
1667, John Milton, “Book II”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| syrtes | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| syrt | alternative | lexicographic |