Skolion
/ˈskoʊ.li.ən/noun
A song, often improvised or politically themed, sung at an ancient Greek drinking party.
Did you know?The word likely refers to its “crooked” or winding route through a banquet, as singers took turns passing the song—or lyre—from one guest to another.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*skel-
“To bend, curve, or be crooked; the reconstructed root associated with the Greek word for crookedness.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
skoliós
“Crooked, bent, winding, or difficult.”
Classical Greek
Greek
skólion
“A banquet song, especially one sung in turn by guests at a drinking party.”
19th Century
English
skolion
“An ancient Greek drinking song adopted into English scholarly vocabulary.”
Modern English
English
skolion
“A song or lyric performed at an ancient Greek symposium, often with competitive or political content.”
Explore more surprising origins