phalanx English · revision 1180

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈfælæŋks/ ''(UK)''; /ˈfeɪˌlæŋks/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|phalanx]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|grc|φάλαγξ|tr=phálanx|t=line of battle; finger or toe bone]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) originally “log, trunk”,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) a word of unknown origin.^(Etymonline) Etymonline suggests it may come from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning “plank, beam”, the source of [[balk]].^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) An earlier English form was ''phalange'' (before 1460).^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An ancient Greek battle formation in close ranks (1553).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In anatomy the word first named the whole row of finger joints, which fit together like infantry in close order,^(Etymonline) and then a single bone of a finger or toe (1693).^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) Figuratively it has meant a group of people banded together in a common cause since 1600,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and a compact mass of people, animals or things since 1733.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) In Fourier's social system it was a community living in a [[phalanstery]] (1843).^(OED 1989)^(AHD)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1460 – ''phalange''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1553 – a Greek battle formation.^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1600 – a group united for a cause.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1693 – a bone of a finger or toe.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1733 – a compact body of persons or animals.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1843 – a Fourierist community.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A formation of heavily armed [[infantry]] in close, deep ranks with overlapping shields and long spears, as in ancient Greece and [[Macedonia]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A close-knit or compact body of people, animals or things.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A group of people united for a common purpose.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A bone of a finger or toe; plural usually ''phalanges''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A community of followers of [[Fourier]]; a [[phalanstery]].^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[phalangal]]

+ * [[phalangeal]]

+ * [[phalange]]

+ * [[phalanges]]

+ * [[phalanstery]]

+ * [[balk]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Merriam-Webster gives both ''phalanxes'' and ''phalanges'' as plurals, with ''phalanges'' for the bones.^(MW Collegiate) Wiktionary notes that ''phalanxes'' is preferred in most contexts but ''phalanges'' is standard in biology.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}