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tri·skel·i·on

(trī-skĕlē-ən, trĭ-) also tri·skele (trīskēl′, trĭskēl′)

n. pl. tri·skel·i·a (-skĕlē-ə) also tri·skeles

A figure consisting of three curved lines or branches, or three stylized human arms or legs, radiating from a common center.

[New Latin, from Greek triskelēs, three-legged : tri-, tri- + skelos, leg.]

(click for a larger image)

triskelion

3rd-century bc Roman bronze appliqué

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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