quincunx

[ kwing-kuhngks, kwin- ]

noun

1. an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
2. Botany. an overlapping arrangement of five petals or leaves, in which two are interior, two are exterior, and one is partly interior and partly exterior.

quincunx

/ ˈkwɪnkʌŋks /

noun

1. a group of five objects arranged in the shape of a rectangle with one at each of the four corners and the fifth in the centre
2. botany a quincuncial arrangement of sepals or petals in the bud
3. astrology an aspect of 150° between two planets

Word History and Origins

Origin of quincunx¹

1640–50; < Latin: five twelfths ( quinc-, variant of quīnque- quinque- + uncia twelfth; ounce ¹ ); originally a Roman coin worth five twelfths of an as and marked with a quincunx of spots

Word History and Origins

Origin of quincunx¹

C17: from Latin: five twelfths, from quinque five + uncia twelfth; in ancient Rome, this was a coin worth five twelfths of an as ² and marked with five spots

Example Sentences

Toward the tower Criere stood the orchard full of all fruit-trees, set and ranged in a quincunx.

From Project Gutenberg

I divide the city into different portions, and each day I visit another quincunx.

From Project Gutenberg

The four faces of this square axis are pierced with three round, equal, truly-bored holes, arranged in a quincunx.

From Project Gutenberg

The zone is covered with fine puncta in quincunx, not visible under ordinary illumination.

From Project Gutenberg

Three of them enclose the orchard, which is planted quincunx-wise, with yew hedge and grass-walk all round it.

From Project Gutenberg