Prismatoid
/ˈprɪz.mə.tɔɪd/noun
A polyhedron whose vertices lie in two parallel planes, often having polygonal bases connected by triangular or trapezoidal faces.
Did you know?The core word prism comes from Ancient Greek πρίσμα, meaning “something sawed off,” because early geometers imagined the shape as a section cut from a solid.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*per-
“To cut, strike, or pass through; a proposed ancient root connected with Greek terms involving cutting and piercing.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
πρίζω (prizō)
“To saw or cut with a saw.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
πρίσμα (prisma)
“Something sawed off; a geometrical prism.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
πρίσμα + -οειδής (prisma + -oeidēs)
“Prism-like or having the form of a prism; -oeidēs means “resembling” or “shaped like.””
19th Century
English
prismatoid
“A solid resembling or related to a prism, used in mathematical geometry.”
Modern English
English
prismatoid
“A polyhedron with vertices in two parallel planes, commonly treated as a generalization of a prism.”