Colaphus
/ˈkɒləfəs/noun
A blow or cuff, especially a blow delivered with the hand or fist.
Did you know?The Latin term appears in the Vulgate Gospel account of Jesus being struck, where *colaphis* means “with blows” or “with fists.”
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
κόλαφος (kolaphos)
“A blow, especially a blow with the fist.”
Hellenistic Greek
Greek
κολαφίζω (kolaphizō)
“To strike with the hand or fist; to buffet.”
Classical and Late Latin
Latin
colaphus
“A blow or cuff, borrowed from Greek.”
4th Century
Vulgate Latin
colaphis
“With blows or fists; used in the biblical phrase describing someone being struck.”
Early Modern English
English
colaphus
“A blow or cuff; a rare learned borrowing from Latin.”
Modern English
English
colaphus
“An obsolete or highly rare word for a blow or slap.”