, instrument whirled round on the end of a string, used in the mysteries, ῥόμβου θ' εἱλισσομένα κύκλιος ἔνοσις αἰθερίαE.Hel.1362, cf. Archyt.1, Theoc.2.30; as a boy's toy, AP6.309 (Leon.), Orph.Fr.31.29, Fr.34, M.Ant.5.36; defined as ξυλήφιον, οὗ ἐξῆπται τὸ σπαρτίον, καὶ ἐν ταῖς τελεταῖς ἐδονεῖτο, ἵνα ῥοιζῇ, Sch.Clem.Al.Protr.2.17.2, cf. Hsch.2.
magic wheel
, spun alternately in each direction by the torsion of two cords passed through two holes in it, used as a love-charm, Luc.DMeretr. 4.5; called ἴυγξ in Theoc.2.17, AP5.204; Lat.
, used in the worship of Rhea and of Dionysus, Ar.Fr.303, Diog.Ath.1.3, A.R. 1.1139, AP6.165 (Phal.); ῥύμβος ξύλινος ἐπίχρυσοσIG22.1456.49, cf. 1517.207. 4.
membrum virile,
PLond.1821.164. II.
whirling motion
, as of a bull-roarer, ἀκόντων ἱέντα ῥόμβον shooting forth
whirling
darts, Pi.O.13.94; αἰετοῦ ῥ. the eagle's
swoop
, Id.I.4(3).47(65); ῥ. τυπάνωνId.Dith.Oxy.1604Fr.1 ii 9; ἐν αἰθερίῳ ῥύμβῳCritias 19.2D.; ῥόμβου ἀπειρεσίου δινεύμασιν οἶμον ἐλαύνων, of the Sun, Orph.H. 8.7: metaph., Νέμεσις καὶ ῥ. ἀλάστωρIG14.1389ii34 (perh. an Adj., = ῥεμβόσ).— The Gramm. hold ῥύμβοσ to be Att., ῥόμβοσ Hellenic, Sch.Theoc.2.30, Ath.7.330b. B.
rhombus, lozenge
, i.e. a four-sided figure with all the sides, but only the opposite angles, equal, Arist.Mech.854b16, Euc.1 Def. 22. b.ῥ. στερεόσ, a figure composed of two cones on opposite sides of the same base, Archim.Sph.Cyl.1.26, al. 2. a species of fish, of which
turbot
and
brill
are varieties, so called from its rhomblike shape, Nausicr.2.13; Ῥωμαῖοι καλοῦσι τὴν ψῆτταν ῥ. Ath.7.330b, cf. ψῆττα. 3.
surgical bandage
, so called from its shape, Hp.Off.7, Heliod. ap. Orib.48.20.14. 4.
pattern of the same shape
, in weaving cloth, Democr.Eph.1; διαπλοκὴ ῥόμβων Aristeas 74.