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An ancient writing system having alternate lines written in opposite directions
Answer for the clue "An ancient writing system having alternate lines written in opposite directions ", 13 letters:
boustrophedon
Alternative clues for the word boustrophedon
Word definitions for boustrophedon in dictionaries
Wiktionary
Word definitions in Wiktionary
a. 1 (context historical calligraphy of writing English) Written from right-to-left and left-to-right on alternate lines. 2 (context figuratively English) Changing direction, going back and forth. adv. (context historical calligraphy of writing English) ...
Wikipedia
Word definitions in Wikipedia
Boustrphedon is a live album by free jazz saxophonist and composer Evan Parker and the Transatlantic Art Ensemble featuring Roscoe Mitchell recorded in Germany in 2004 and released on the ECM label.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
Word definitions in Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
1783, ancient form of writing with lines alternately written left-to-right and right-to-left, from Greek, literally "turning as an ox in plowing," from bous "ox" (see cow (n.)) + strephein "to turn" (see strophe ).
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Word definitions in The Collaborative International Dictionary
Boustrophedon \Bou`stro*phe"don\, n. [Gr. ? turning like oxen in plowing; ? to turn.] An ancient mode of writing, in alternate directions, one line from left to right, and the next from right to left (as fields are plowed), as in early Greek and Hittite.
WordNet
Word definitions in WordNet
n. an ancient writing system: having alternate lines written in opposite directions; literally `as the ox ploughs'
Usage examples of boustrophedon.
But what's interesting is that the whole thing is written in a style called boustrophedon.
This, they call the boustrophedon form because it mimics the back-and-forth pacing of an ox tied to a tether.
Minute rows of hooked characters marched up and down the sheet when he unfolded it, and his narrow finger followed them up and down, down and up—the Laonese script is written boustrophedon, like Hittite: back and forth, as an ox plows a field.
Minute rows of hooked characters marched up and down the sheet when he unfolded it, and his narrow finger followed them up and down, down and up-the Laonese script is written boustrophedon, like Hittite: back and forth, as an ox plows a field.