Phalangite
/fəˈlæn.dʒaɪt/noun
A soldier who fought in a phalanx, especially in ancient Greek or Hellenistic armies.
Did you know?Phalangite comes from the same Greek root as phalanx, the tight military formation whose name ultimately traces back to a word for a log, beam, or rolling cylinder.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
φάλαγξ (phálanx)
“A line or rank of troops; later, a compact infantry formation”
Classical Greek
Greek
φάλαγγιτης (phálangitēs)
“A man belonging to a phalanx; a phalanx soldier”
Latin
Latin
phalangīta
“A phalanx soldier, borrowed from Greek military usage”
16th–17th Century
English
phalangite
“A member of a phalanx, especially in classical military history”
Modern English
English
phalangite
“A soldier in a phalanx, especially in ancient Greek warfare”
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