syrtis

S1Y4R1T1I1S1
/sərtəz/

noun

Synonym of quicksand.

Similar
quicksandbog
OriginLatin syrtis ← Ancient Greek Σύρτις →
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Meanings

nounsyrtis (plural syrtes)

plural syrtes · alternative syrt

  1. archaicSynonym of quicksand.

    Synonyms: quicksand

  2. archaicSynonym of bog.

    ... Quenched in a boggy syrtis, neither sea Nor good dry land ...

    1667, John Milton, “Book II”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC

    Synonyms: bog

Synonyms & antonyms

nounSynonym of quicksand.

Similar
quicksand

nounSynonym of bog.

Similar
bog
Also see
quicksandsirte

Origin

  1. Ancient GreekΣύρτις
  2. Latinsyrtis
  3. Englishsyrtis

From Latin syrtis, from Syrtis (“Sirte, Gulf of Syrtis”), from Ancient Greek Σύρτις (Súrtis), an area of Libya proverbially treacherous for sailing owing to the effect of wind and waves on its quicksand. Doublet of Sirte.

More words from Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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