πέλεκυσ, εοσ, pl. dat. πελέκεσσι: axe or hatchet, for felling trees, Il. 23.114, Il. 17.520; double-edged, Od. 5.234, see ἡμιπέλεκκα. A sacrificial instrument in Od. 3.449. In the contest with the bow of Odysseus the axes were either axheads without the handles, arranged in line, or iron blocks resembling axes, made for the purpose of target-shooting, Od. 19.573.
Trag.Adesp.412; Τενέδιος π. , prov. of impartial and over-harsh justice, Arist.Fr.593; or of summary justice by 'cutting the knot', from the story of Tennes, St.Byz. s.v. Τένεδοσ (also ὁ Τέννου π. Conon 28); τοὺς π. ἀπέλυσε τῶν ῥάβδων took the
axes
from the fasces of the lictors, Plu.Publ.10, cf. Plb.6.53.8. 3. as an image of perseverance, κραδίη π. ὣς ..ἀτειρήσIl.3.60. 4. "ἀσκός, π." in a child's game, Thphr.Char.5.5. 5. nickname in Com.Adesp.824; cf. πρίων. 6.
coin
in Cyprus, prob. in Inscr.Cypr. 135.26 H.; cf. πέλεκυ. II. a geometrical figure,
like the head of a double axe
, title of AP15.22 (Simm.). (Cf. Skt.
paraús
; loanword from Bab.
pila
, Sumer.
balag
'axe'.) [The ῠ of nom. and acc. sg. is in Hom. sts. lengthd., Il.3.60, 17.520: acc. pl. πελέκεασ is in Hom. always trisyll. , ^ ^ _.]