philomel

[ fil-uh-mel ]

nounLiterary.
  1. the nightingale.

Origin of philomel

1
1350–1400; earlier Philomele, Philomela (<Middle French philomèle) <Latin Philomēla<Greek PhilómēlaPhilomela; replacing Middle English Philomene<Medieval Latin Philomēna, dissimilated variant of Philomēla
  • Also phil·o·me·la [fil-uh-mee-luh] /ˌfɪl əˈmi lə/ .

Words Nearby philomel

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How to use philomel in a sentence

  • Mariequita thought that perhaps philomel's mother might come for a few days, and money enough.

  • Two of the fire-ships were soon in flames, a third blew up, and a fourth was sunk by the philomel.

  • About an hour from the time the gallant little philomel got under fire, the action became general.

    The Three Lieutenants | W.H.G. Kingston
  • A hand organ—philomel by the grace of our stage carpenter, Fancy—fluted and droned in a side street.

    The Four Million | O. Henry
  • The philomel had been lying off Cowes three days before Mr. Smithson appeared upon the scene.

    Phantom Fortune, A Novel | M. E. Braddon

British Dictionary definitions for philomel

philomel

philomela (ˌfɪləʊˈmiːlə)

/ (ˈfɪləˌmɛl) /


noun
  1. poetic names for a nightingale

Origin of philomel

1
C14 philomene, via Medieval Latin from Latin philomēla, from Greek

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012