ostrakon
[ os-truh-kon ]
/ ˈɒs trəˌkɒn /
noun, plural os·tra·ka [os-truh-kuh] /ˈɒs trə kə/.
Words nearby ostrakon
ostracism,
ostracize,
ostracod,
ostracoderm,
ostracon,
ostrakon,
ostranenie,
ostrava,
ostrich,
ostrich fern,
ostringer
Definition for ostrakon (2 of 2)
ostracon
or os·tra·kon
[ os-truh-kon ]
/ ˈɒs trəˌkɒn /
noun, plural os·tra·ca [os-truh-kuh] /ˈɒs trə kə/.
(in ancient Greece) a potsherd, especially one used as a ballot on which the name of a person voted to be ostracized was inscribed.
Origin of ostracon
1880–85; < Greek
óstrakon; see
ostracize
Example sentences from the Web for ostrakon
From ostrakon, a tile; the voter wrote the name on a tile or shell.
The Outline of History: Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind |Herbert George WellsThen each voter received a shell (Greek, ostrakon), and dropped it into a place made for that purpose.
The Story of the Greeks |H. A. GuerberOne of their most interesting games, and one which you would all enjoy, was the twirling of the ostrakon.
British Dictionary definitions for ostrakon
ostracon
/ (ˈɒstrəˌkɒn) /
noun
(in ancient Greece) a potsherd used for ostracizing
Word Origin for ostracon
from Greek