phyllon
/ˈfɪlɒn/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English
15
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A specific herb which the ancient Greek Theophrastus asserted could influence the sex of a fetus.
Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "In this following the analogy of phyton already appropriated for the integer of the axis plus the phyllon or phylla it bears."
- "Phylloceras ptychoicum is one of the most interesting species of all those found in the Kutch Jura, [...] The lobes are most characteristic, and on them the external and first lateral saddle are the most important parts. The external saddle is beautifully symmetrical, finishing in four phylla, of which the two corresponding ones are equal; the first lateral saddle is also divided into four terminating phylla, which are, however, not quite symmetrical."
- "Corona double; phylla of the outer row almost free, 1.8 to 2 mm. long, lanceolate, [...]"
- "It were to be wished true, and women would idolize him, could that be made out which he recordeth of phyllon, mercury, and other vegetables, that the juice of the male plant drunk, or the leaves but applied unto the genitals, determines their conceptions unto males."
- "The female phyllon plant ensures the conception of issue of the same sex, while the male plant, differing only in its seed, brings about […]"
Etymology
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: *bʰleh₃-, φύλλον
Usage
Subject
Wiktionary places this term in Medicine.