obeliscolychny

English

Etymology

From Middle French obeliscolychnie (in Rabelais), from Ancient Greek ὀβελισκολύχνιον (obeliskolúkhnion, “spit used as a lamp-holder”), from ὀβελίσκος (obelískos, “obelisk”) + λυχνίον (lukhníon, “lamp-stand”).

Noun

obeliscolychny (plural obeliscolychnies)

  1. (rare) A lighthouse.
    • 1694, PA Motteux, translating François Rabelais, Pantagruel, p. 119:
      “I see a great number of People on the Harbour; I see a Light on an Obeliscolychny.”
    • 1993, Iain White, translating Alfred Jarry, Visits of Love, p. 85:
      Who has lit the sun and the moon like two lamps, that they might shine in the distance on the two mountains on the two sides of the castle, comparable to two obeliscolychnies?
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