boustrophedon

bou·stro·phe·don

noun \ˌbü-strə-ˈfē-ˌdän, -d^ən\

Definition of BOUSTROPHEDON

: the writing of alternate lines in opposite directions (as from left to right and from right to left)

— boustrophedon adjective or adverb

— bou·stro·phe·don·ic \-fē-ˈdä-nik\ adjective

Origin of BOUSTROPHEDON

Greek boustrophēdon, adverb, literally, turning like oxen in plowing, from bous ox, cow + strephein to turn — more at cow

First Known Use: 1699

Other Literature Terms

apophasis, bathos, bildungsroman, bowdlerize, caesura, coda, doggerel, euphemism, poesy, prosody