Punic

American  

[pyoo-nik] / ˈpyu nɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to the ancient Carthaginians.

2. treacherous; perfidious: originally applied by the Romans to the Carthaginians.

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noun

1. the language of ancient Carthage, a form of late Phoenician.

Punic British  

/ ˈpjuːnɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to ancient Carthage or the Carthaginians

2. characteristic of the treachery of the Carthaginians

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noun

1. the language of the ancient Carthaginians; a late form of Phoenician

Etymology

Origin of Punic

< Latin Pūnicus, earlier Poenicus Carthaginian, equivalent to Poen ( us ) a Phoenician, a Carthaginian (akin to Greek Phoînix a Phoenician ) + -icus -ic

Example Sentences

Number two: the Roman historian Livy’s book about the Second Punic War, with Rome against the invading North African armies from Carthage and Hannibal’s war elephants crossing the Alps.

From The Wall Street Journal

Or of the Roman Republic, during the Third Punic War, that it was acting under the orders of Massinissa, king of Numidia?

From The Wall Street Journal

It is thought he took soldiers and animals from Carthage through Spain and France to invade Italy, crossing the Alps with 37 elephants in 218 BCE during the second of the so-called Punic Wars.

From BBC

While the outcome of the Punic Wars is clear, Ms. MacDonald rejects the Roman fancy that both sides had been “two equal powers whose dispute was over the ‘empire of the world.’”

From The Wall Street Journal

By 19, he was commanding an enlarged legion in the Second Punic War.

From The Wall Street Journal