Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

quincunx

noun
quin·cunx | \ˈkwin-ˌkəŋ(k)s \

Definition of quincunx 

: an arrangement of five things in a square or rectangle with one at each corner and one in the middle

Other Words from quincunx Give Me Five for Quincunx Learn More about quincunx

Keep scrolling for more

Other Words from quincunx

quincuncial \kwin-ˈkən(t)-shəl \ or quincunxial \kwin-ˈkəŋk-sē-əl \ adjective

Give Me Five for Quincunx

In ancient Rome, a quincunx was a coin with a weight equal to five twelfths of a libra, a unit of weight similar to our pound. The coin's name comes from the Latin roots quinque, meaning "five," and uncia, meaning "one twelfth."  The ancients used a pattern of five dots arranged like the pips on a die as a symbol for the coin, and English speakers applied the word to arrangements similar to that distinctive five-dot mark.

First Known Use of quincunx

1545, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for quincunx

Latin quincunc-, quincunx, literally, five twelfths, from quinque five + uncia twelfth part — more at five, ounce

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about quincunx

Listen to Our Podcast about quincunx

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Dictionary Entries near quincunx

quincentennial

quince yellow

Quincke tube

quincunx

Quincy

quindecagon

quindecasyllabic

Statistics for quincunx

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for quincunx

The first known use of quincunx was in 1545

See more words from the same year

Comments on quincunx

What made you want to look up quincunx? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

linchpin

one that holds something together

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Words from Greek and Roman Mythology Quiz

  • the-triumph-of-venus-by-alessandro-magnasco
  • Boreal comes from the name of the ancient Greek god of which wind?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Syn City

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games