aspidochelone

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noun

A fabled sea creature according to the tradition of the Physiologus and medieval bestiaries, variously described as a large whale or vast sea turtle, and a giant sea monster with huge spines on the ridge of its back. It is often mistaken for an island, enticing unwitting sailors and drowning them.

OriginAncient Greek ἀσπιδοχελώνη →
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Meanings

nounaspidochelone (plural aspidochelones)

plural aspidochelones

  1. A fabled sea creature according to the tradition of the Physiologus and medieval bestiaries, variously described as a large whale or vast sea turtle, and a giant sea monster with huge spines on the ridge of its back. It is often mistaken for an island, enticing unwitting sailors and drowning them.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekἀσπιδοχελώνη
  2. Englishaspidochelone

From Ancient Greek ἀσπιδοχελώνη (aspidokhelṓnē).

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek ἀσπιδοχελώνη
  • ἀσπιδοχελώνη (aspidokhelṓnē)fabled sea creature
French aspidochélon
  • aspidochélonfabled sea creature
Japanese アスピドケロン
  • アスピドケロンfabled sea creature
Cite this entry
APA

aspidochelone. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/aspidochelone

MLA

“aspidochelone.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/aspidochelone. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “aspidochelone,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/aspidochelone.

Source: aspidochelone on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.