talayot

[ tuh-lah-yoht ]

noun

1. any of the round or square prehistoric stone towers found in the Balearic Islands, possibly modeled after the nuraghi in Sardinia.

Word History and Origins

Origin of talayot¹

1870–75; < Catalan talaiot < Arabic ṭalāyiʿ, plural of ṭalīʿah sentinel

Example Sentences

After a time the Boy returned to free me from the brambles round which the tempest had twisted my veil and chiffon scarf, holding me prisoner; and to report that, after some climbing, the Man and he had succeeded in reaching the talayot, and that they thought if I didn't mind some rough scrambling I might manage to get there.

From Project Gutenberg

For as we wound about, the talayot appeared to dodge us, sometimes popping up before us, sometimes lurking behind; often seeming comparatively near, more often looming at a wholly unexpected distance away, and always encircled by these impenetrable gateless walls of stone.

From Project Gutenberg

The Man, who, in spite of the decided opposition offered by the elements, had succeeded in scaling the top of the talayot, declared it to be merely a greatly magnified cairn, and there and then announced his adoption of Dr. Guillemand's theory that the primary reason for the origin of these much-disputed heaps was simply the need for clearing the fields of stones.

From Project Gutenberg

Just behind the talayot, separated from it by certain thick walls, stands another relic of prehistoric times in the shape of a taula, or table stone—one huge slab placed horizontally on the top of a massive upright stone.

From Project Gutenberg

After walking a little way along the San Luis road, which we had taken partly by chance, and partly, I think, because there the wind would be at our backs, we saw in the distance a large talayot, and rejoiced at having so quickly come within easy reach of what we were looking for.

From Project Gutenberg