Daedalus

1 of 2

noun

Dae·​da·​lus ˈde-də-ləs  ˈdē- 

: the legendary builder of the Cretan labyrinth who makes wings to enable himself and his son Icarus to escape imprisonment

Daedalian adjective

or Daedalean

di-ˈdāl-yən 

Daedalian

2 of 2

adjective

Dae·​da·​lian di-ˈdāl-yən 

variants or Daedalean

1

: of, relating to, or suggesting the mythological Daedalus

Daedalian wings of escape

—Curtis Bradford

2

: daedal

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin, from Greek Daidalos

Adjective

Daedalus, mythical craftsman and inventor of ancient Greece noted especially for the construction of a labyrinth to contain the Minotaur and for the invention of wings with which he escaped imprisonment (from Latin, from Greek Daidalos) + English -ian, -ean

First Known Use

Noun

1546, in the meaning defined above