alalagmos means A war cry of Ancient Greece. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 82 out of 100.
Why “alalagmos” is a great word
A fierce, rhythmic war cry raised by Ancient Greek soldiers, specifically the shout of 'alalai'. From Ancient Greek ἀλαλαγμός (alalagmós, "war cry"), from ἀλαλάζω (alalázō, "to raise the war cry, to shout 'alalai'"). Unlike a "paean"—a structured hymn of praise—or the Germanic "barritus"—a guttural roar meant to mimic an elephant—the alalagmos was a human, polyphonic scream, born from a line of bronze shields. It was the sound of spear-butts pounding in unison on the earth, the metallic rasp of bronze scraping bronze as ranks closed, and a thousand throats tearing a single syllable against the air—a ritualized madness forged from collective courage, brief and terrible as the combat it preceded.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek ἀλαλαγμός (alalagmós), from ἀλαλάζω (alalázō), compare Greek αλαλάζω (alalázo).
noun
- A war cry of Ancient Greece.