talaria

[prettygoodword]

talaria (tuh-LAIR-ee-uh) - n., winged sandals.


Such as, in mythology, those worn by Hermes/Mercury and Iris, and borrowed by Perseus on his way to Medusa. (Speaking of which last episode, Edward Burne-Jones painted it at least twice and the first version is better than the redo.) From Latin tālāria, noun use of neuter plural of tālāris, belonging/attached to the ankles, from tālus, ankle. Here's an example from a reproduction of a statue in Herculaneum:


Thanks, WikiMedia!

---L.

Comments

[thistleingrey]

That's a useful word! At least, I like precision when it may be had without much contortion.

[prettygoodword]

Heh. That last clause is the kicker.