thyrsus

2 definitions found

thyrsus - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Thyrsus \Thyr"sus\, n.; pl. Thyrsi. [L., fr. Gr. ?. Cf.
     Torso.]
     1. A staff entwined with ivy, and surmounted by a pine cone,
        or by a bunch of vine or ivy leaves with grapes or
        berries. It is an attribute of Bacchus, and of the satyrs
        and others engaging in Bacchic rites.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              A good to grow on graves
              As twist about a thyrsus.             --Mrs.
                                                    Browning.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              In my hand I bear
              The thyrsus, tipped with fragrant cones of pine.
                                                    --Longfellow.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Bot.) A species of inflorescence; a dense panicle, as in
        the lilac and horse-chestnut.
        [1913 Webster]

thyrsus - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  thyrsus
      n 1: a dense flower cluster (as of the lilac or horse chestnut)
           in which the main axis is racemose and the branches are
           cymose [syn: thyrse, thyrsus]