pyxis

P3Y4X8I1S1
/ˈpɪksɪs/

noun

A small box.

Similar
pyxidium
OriginLatin pyxis →
UncommonScrabble 17
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Meanings

pyxis1

nounpyxis (plural pyxides)

plural pyxides

  1. A small box.
  2. biologyA capsule in which the lid separates from the top of the fruit to release the seeds.

    Synonyms: pyxidium

  3. A nautical compass.
  4. ChristianityThe box in which ashes are stored for Ash Wednesday.
  5. anatomyacetabulum.

Pyxis2

proper noun
  1. astronomyA spring constellation of the southern sky, said to resemble the compass of a ship. It is associated with the larger Argo Navis, although it was never officially part of that constellation.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA capsule in which the lid separates from the top of the fruit to release the seeds.

Similar
pyxidium

More synonyms by meaning

nounfruit of such plants as the plantain; a capsule whose upper part falls off when the seeds are released

Similar
pyxidium
Broader
fruit
Also see
pyxpyxidium

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

pyxis · noun

  1. Latinpyxis“small box”
  2. Englishpyxis

From Latin pyxis (“small box”). Doublet of box, piseog, and pyx.

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Pyxis · proper noun

  1. Latinpyxis“little box”
  2. EnglishPyxis

Named by the French astronomer Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille in 1763, and originally called Pyxis Nautica (“nautical compass”), from Latin pyxis (“little box”).

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek πυξίς
  • πυξίς (puxís)small box
Esperanto Kompaso
  • Kompasoconstellation
Finnish laivakompassi, Kompassi
  • laivakompassinautical compass
  • Kompassiconstellation
French Boussole
  • Boussoleconstellation
German Pyxis, Schiffskompass
  • Pyxissmall box
  • Schiffskompassconstellation
  • Pyxisconstellation
Irish Compás an Mhairnéalaigh
  • Compás an Mhairnéalaighconstellation
Latin pyxis
  • pyxissmall box
Malay Kompas Pelaut
  • Kompas Pelautconstellation
Polish szkatułka, kompas
  • szkatułkasmall box
  • kompasnautical compass
  • puszkaChristianity: box in which ashes are stored for Ash Wednesday
  • cyboriumChristianity: box in which ashes are stored for Ash Wednesday
  • Kompasconstellation
Russian Ко́мпас
  • Ко́мпас (Kómpas)constellation
Spanish Brújula, Pyxis
  • Brújulaconstellation
  • Pyxisconstellation
Cite this entry
APA

pyxis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pyxis

MLA

“pyxis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pyxis. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “pyxis,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pyxis.

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