aryballos

[ ar-uh-bal-uhs ]

noun

, Greek and Roman Antiquity.

, plural ar·y·bal·loi [ar-, uh, -, bal, -oi].

1. an oil jar, characterized by a spherical body, flat-rimmed mouth, and often a single handle extending from the lip to the shoulder of the jar, used chiefly for fragrant ointments.

Other Words From

• ary·balloid adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of aryballos¹

First recorded in 1840–50; from Greek arýballos “a draw-purse,” equivalent to arý(ein) “to draw” + -ballos, akin to ballántion “purse”