Thyrsus

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  thyrsus
       n : 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}]
       [also: {thyrsi} (pl)]