alectoria

1 of 2

noun (1)

al·​ec·​to·​ria
ˌa-lək-ˈtȯr-ē-ə
variants or allectory
ə-ˈlek-tə-rē
or alectorian
ˌa-lək-ˈtȯr-ē-ən
or alectorius
ˌa-lək-ˈtȯr-ē-əs
plural alectoriae
ˌa-lək-ˈtȯr-ē-ˌē
or allectories or alectorians or alectorii
ˌa-lək-ˈtȯr-ē-ˌī
: a talismanic stone that is supposedly found in the crop of a cock and is believed to be magical

Alectoria

2 of 2

noun (2)

Al·​ec·​to·​ria
ˌa-lək-ˈtȯr-ē-ə
: a genus of lichens (family Usneaceae) characterized by a dark brown erect or pendulous much-branched thallus of cylindrical form

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

alectoria, allectory from Medieval Latin alectoria, short for Latin alectoria gemma, literally, cock's gem, from alectoria (feminine of alectorius of a cock, from Greek alektōr cock) + gemma gem; alectorian from Latin alectorius + English -an; alectorius from Latin, adjective

Noun (2)

New Latin, from Greek alektōr cock (probably from Alektōr, a name) + New Latin -ia

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1821, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of alectoria was in the 14th century

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Dictionary Entries Near alectoria

alecost

alectoria

Alectoria

Cite this Entry

“Alectoria.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alectoria. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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