Standard Lemma guide

triskelion

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /trɑɪˈskɛ.li.ən/
  • /trɪˈskɛ.li.ən/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A figure composed of three interlocked spirals (or three bent human legs), with threefold rotational symmetry.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Coordinate term: tetraskelion
  • Sicily and the Isle of Man use triskelia as their emblems.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: triskeles, triskele

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a figure consisting of three stylized human arms or legs (or three bent lines) radiating from a center

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: triskele

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: design, pattern, figure

History

Etymology

Borrowed from Ancient Greek τρισκέλιον (triskélion).

Across languages

Translations

13 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: трискелион (triskelion) — figure composed of three interlocked spirals, or three bent human legs
  • Chinese Mandarin: 三曲腳圖 /三曲脚图 (sānqūjiǎotú) — figure composed of three interlocked spirals, or three bent human legs
  • Dutch: triskelion — figure composed of three interlocked spirals, or three bent human legs
  • French: triskèle — figure composed of three interlocked spirals, or three bent human legs
  • German: Triskele — figure composed of three interlocked spirals, or three bent human legs
  • Hungarian: triszkelion — figure composed of three interlocked spirals, or three bent human legs
  • Italian: triscele — figure composed of three interlocked spirals, or three bent human legs
  • Italian: trinacria — figure composed of three interlocked spirals, or three bent human legs
  • Italian: triquetra — figure composed of three interlocked spirals, or three bent human legs
  • Sicilian: trìscili — figure composed of three interlocked spirals, or three bent human legs
  • Sicilian: triskelion — figure composed of three interlocked spirals, or three bent human legs
  • Sicilian: trinàcria — figure composed of three interlocked spirals, or three bent human legs
  • Swedish: triskele — figure composed of three interlocked spirals, or three bent human legs