What is "thyrsi"

Thyrsus \Thyr"sus\, n.; pl. Thyrsi. [L., fr. Gr. ?. Cf. Torso.]

1. A staff entwined with ivy, and surmounted by a pine cone, or by a bunch of vine or ivy leaves with grapes or berries. It is an attribute of Bacchus, and of the satyrs and others engaging in Bacchic rites.

   A good to grow on graves As twist about a thyrsus.
   --Mrs. Browning.

   In my hand I bear The thyrsus, tipped with fragrant cones of pine.
   --Longfellow.

2. (Bot.) A species of inflorescence; a dense panicle, as in the lilac and horse-chestnut.

n. (plural of thyrsus English)

1. n. a dense flower cluster (as of the lilac or horse chestnut) in which the main axis is racemose and the branches are cymose [syn: thyrse]

2. [also: thyrsi (pl)]

See thyrsus