astragali
|a-stra-ga-li|
/əˈstræɡəlaɪ/
(astragalus)
small rounded bone or piece (ankle bone)
Etymology
'astragalus' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'astragalos', where 'astragalos' meant 'ankle bone' or 'knucklebone'.
'astragalos' passed into Latin as 'astragalus', then into Late Latin/Medieval Latin and Middle English (as 'astragal'/'astragalus'), eventually yielding the modern English 'astragalus' and its classical plural form 'astragali'.
Initially it meant 'ankle bone' in Greek; over time the term was extended to denote small rounded mouldings in architecture, knucklebones used as gaming pieces, and later was adopted as the botanical genus name 'Astragalus' for a group of plants.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural of 'astragalus': the talus or ankle bone in vertebrates (used when referring to more than one such bone).
The archaeologist catalogued several astragali recovered from the burial site.
Synonyms
Noun 2
small convex mouldings (astragals) in architecture — used here as the plural of that ornamental element.
The cornice was ornamented with carved astragali along its length.
Synonyms
Noun 3
knucklebones used as gaming pieces or dice in antiquity — the plural form referring to multiple such pieces.
Children in the ancient town amused themselves by tossing astragali like dice.
Synonyms
Noun 4
plural of the plant genus 'Astragalus' — referring to multiple plants of that genus (milk-vetches).
Several astragali on the slope were identified as members of the milk-vetch family.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/07 06:03