periptery

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noun

The region surrounding a moving body, such as the wing of a bird or a gliding aeroplane, within which cyclic or vortical motion of the air occurs.

“F. W. (Frederick William) Lanchester, "Aerial Flight - Volume 1", Chapter IV, p.139 Wing Form and Motion in the Periptery”

OriginAncient Greek πτερόν →
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Meanings

nounperiptery (plural peripteries)

plural peripteries

  1. The region surrounding a moving body, such as the wing of a bird or a gliding aeroplane, within which cyclic or vortical motion of the air occurs.

    F. W. (Frederick William) Lanchester, "Aerial Flight - Volume 1", Chapter IV, p.139 Wing Form and Motion in the Periptery

  2. architectureA building surrounded by a wing or row of columns.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekπτερόν“wing”
  2. Englishperiptery

From peri- + Ancient Greek πτερόν (pterón, “wing”).

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

periptery. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/periptery

MLA

“periptery.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/periptery. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “periptery,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/periptery.

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