English
tripos
Tripos may come from Ancient Greek τρίπους ‘triple-footed’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEτρίπουςtrípous‘triple-footed’uncertain
- Englishearliest quotation 1697tripos
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEτρίπουςtrípous‘triple-footed’uncertain
- Englishearliest quotation 1697tripos
Earliest quotation: 1697, 19 BCE, John Dryden: “Scarce had I said, He shook the holy Ground:…”
The story
For the examination: the word is supposed to refer to the three-legged stool formerly used at the examinations for these honours, though some derive it from the three brackets formerly printed on the back of the paper. The etymon of tripus is the Ancient Greek τρίπους (trípous, “triple-footed”), (from τρι- (tri-, “three”) and πούς (poús, “foot”)).
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *ped- ‘to walk, to step’
pilot, expedition, fetch, impeachment, footing, footed, expedite, impediment, ped, fet, fetter, pada, 48 more
through Proto-Indo-European *pṓds ‘foot’
feet, foot, pie, pioneer, pedal, pawn, pedestrian, pedigree, impede, pug, pes, baht, pedicure, centipede, petiole, peon, pedometer, pedicel, pedicle, quadruped, biped, 37 more
through Ancient Greek πούς ‘foot’
Today it means
noun A three-legged structure; a tripod.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek τρίπους / tripos