Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

rhyton

noun
rhy·​ton | \ ˈrī-ˌtän \

Definition of rhyton

: any of various ornate drinking vessels of ancient times typically shaped in part like an animal or animal's head

Illustration of rhyton

Illustration of rhyton

Examples of rhyton in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 The Orontid Dynasty, which ruled the region starting in the 6th century BCE, drank wine from silver rhytons and likely had undocumented toasting traditions of their own. — Benjamin Kemper, Smithsonian, "Raising a Glass to Armenia’s Elaborate Toasting Tradition," 13 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rhyton.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of rhyton

1820, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for rhyton

Greek, neuter of rhytos flowing, from rhein to flow — more at stream

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about rhyton

Dictionary Entries near rhyton

rhytina

Rhytina

Rhytisma

rhyton

RI

RIA

rial

Statistics for rhyton

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for rhyton

The first known use of rhyton was in 1820

See more words from the same year

More from Merriam-Webster on rhyton

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with rhyton

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rhyton

Comments on rhyton

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

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

gargantuan

tremendous in size, volume, or degree

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Homophone Quiz

  • three-bears-two-of-them-look-like-theyre-whispering-to-a-third-bear-who-looks-chuffed-to-be-the-center-of-attention
  • In order to judge how people felt, the senator's office hired a firm to take a ______.
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

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