triskeles means A symbol consisting of three spirals, or three bent human legs. It carries an Arena rating of 1442, earned across 16 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, triskeles ranks #968 of 17,143 for Best Fossil-Poetry Words, #1,991 of 17,149 for Most Exacting Words, #2,206 of 17,142 for Most Ingenious Words, #2,294 of 17,131 for Scariest Words.
Why “triskeles” is a great word
A symbol consisting of three spirals or three bent human legs radiating from a common center. From Ancient Greek τρισκελής (triskelḗs, "three-legged"), from τρι- (tri-, "three") + σκέλος (skélos, "leg"); borrowed into English via German Triskeles (c. 1850) and French triskèle (1835), first attested in English c. 1880. Unlike the triquetra, a closed knot of interlaced arcs, or the triskelion, a more precise heraldic variant, the triskeles is an emblem of centrifugal motion. It is the fierce whirl carved into a Neolithic stone, the defiant heraldic charge on a shield from Sicily, and the ghost of a running figure caught in its own triple chase—a promise of perpetual movement that has come perfectly to rest.
Etymology
1880, via German Triskeles (c. 1850), from French triskèle (1835). It is in turn from Ancient Greek τρισκελής (triskelḗs, “three-legged”), composed of τρι- (tri-, “three”) + σκέλος (skélos, “leg”).
noun
- A symbol consisting of three spirals, or three bent human legs.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Words closest in meaning
By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.
- triquetra 70% match — A shape formed of three vesicae piscium, sometimes with an additional circle, a symbol of things and persons that are threefold (including the Christian Trinity), and a symbol of protection in Wicca. vs triskeles →
- trefot 66% match — A three-armed spiral symbol used in Heathenry to represent the god Woden or the Norns. vs triskeles →
- triratna 65% match — A Buddhist symbol. vs triskeles →
- tetraskelion 61% match — A figure consisting of four limbs, radiating from the center; especially a fylfot or swastika. vs triskeles →
- gankyil 58% match — A symbol used in Tibetan and East Asian Buddhism, composed of three swirling interconnected blades. vs triskeles →
- tricursal 57% match — being composed of three contours vs triskeles →
- tripedal 57% match — Having three feet. vs triskeles →
- tricorporal 57% match — Having three bodies (for example like a goddess represented in three forms). vs triskeles →