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tri·dent

(trīdnt)

1. A long, three-pronged fork or weapon, especially a three-pronged spear used for fishing.

2. Greek & Roman Mythology The three-pronged spear carried by Neptune or Poseidon.

adj. also tri·den·tate (trī-dĕntāt)

Having three teeth, prongs, or similar protrusions.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin tridēns, trident- : tri-, tri- + dēns, tooth; see dent- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

(click for a larger image)

trident

detail of a statue of Britannia outside St. Paul's Cathedral

London, England

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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