The Collaborative International Dictionary
Strigil \Strig"il\, n. [L. strigilis, from stringere to graze, scrape.] (Gr. & Rom. Antiq.) An instrument of metal, ivory, etc., used for scraping the skin at the bath.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
"ancient tool for scraping the skin after a bath," 1580s, from Latin strigilis "scraper, horse-comb," from stringere (1) "draw along a surface, graze, touch lightly; strip off, pluck off, cut away; clip, prune; lay bare, unsheathe," figuratively "waste, consume, reduce; touch, move, affect, cause pain," from PIE root *streig- "to stroke, rub, press" (cognates: Latin striga "stroke, strike, furrow," stria "furrow, channel;" Old Church Slavonic striga "shear;" Old English stracian "to stroke;" German streichen "to stroke, rub"). Etymologists dispute over whether this is connected to Latin stringere (2), root of strain (v.).
Wiktionary
n. a grooming tool used to scrape away dead skin, oil, dirt, etc.
Wikipedia
The strigil is a tool for the cleansing of the body by scraping off dirt, perspiration, and oil that were applied before bathing. In Ancient Greek and Roman cultures the strigil was primarily of use to men, specifically male athletes. However, in Etruscan culture there is evidence of strigils being used by both sexes. The standard design is a curved blade with a handle, all of which is made of metal. Strigils are often found in tombs or burials in some cases along with a bottle of oil. Strigils were not only significant in a practical sense, but culturally as well. Strigils were commonly used by individuals that were engaging in vigorous activities, in which they were accumulating large amounts of dirt and sweat on their bodies. The individuals that used the strigil varied from athletes, the wealthy, soldiers, and more. However, the wealthy or prestigious individuals often had slaves to wield the strigils and clean their bodies, rather than doing it themselves.
Usage examples of "strigil".
Taking up the strigil, Marcus scraped the sweat from his body angrily.
Plautia was so furious at his remark that she picked up a strigil and threw it at him.
Then she scraped me down with a borrowed strigil, which was even better fun.
An abandoned bone strigil caught my eye, but I thought I had seen the same one there before.
We searched the cart, then I was so demoralised I really could not face strigil ling down next to Pomponius.
She sat in the little wooden room for a long time, toying with the strigil and thinking of the dead.
I made a quick trip to my home, poured olive oil onto my arms and legs, used a strigil to scrape off the dirt and oil, changed into my better tunic, then made my way to the south side of the Acropolis.
He oiled himself, scraped his skin with a curved strigil, and paid a boy a copper to get the places he could not reach.
Then, seizing by armfuls the sparkling robes, the purple mantles, the golden sandals, the combs, strigils, mirrors, lamps, theorbos, and lyres, he threw them into this furnace, more costly than the funeral pile of Sardanapalus, whilst, drunken with the rage of destruction, the slaves danced round, uttering wild yells amid a shower of sparks and ashes.
She began to do things to his body, with her hands, with a fan of feathers she took up, with smooth strigils of enamel.
Laughing, he explained to me the use of the strigils, the rinsings and oils.
The architect's strigils had smooth rounded ends, and were all undamaged.
The curved metal strigils scraped away at his scorched and discolored skin, removing the soot and oily filth that in an age without soap were otherwise locked into his flesh.