πέλεκυς

A. πελέκυος Hdn. Gr.2.707), ὁ, acc. πέλεκυν Od. 5.234, etc. : dat. pl. πελέκεσι, Ep. πελέκεσσι Il. 13.391 :—two-edged axe for felling trees, opp. ἡμιπέλεκκον (q.v.), π . . . χάλκεος, ἀμφοτέρωθεν ἀκαχμένος Od. 5.234 ; ὑλοτόμους πελέκεας Il. 23.114 ; ἐξέταμον πελέκεσσι νεήκεσι 13.391, cf. Pi. O. 7.36, P. 4.263, E. Fr. 472.6 (anap.) ; π. ξυλοκό πος X. Cyr. 6.2.36, etc.

2. battle-axe, πελέκεσσι καὶ ἀξίνῃσι μάχοντο Il. 15.711 ; οὐ δόρασι μάχεσθαι, ἀλλὰ καὶ πελέκεσι Hdt. 7.135 ; πελέκεως δίστομος γένυς E. Fr. 530.5 ; sacrificial axe, Il. 17.520, Od. 3.442 ; executioner's axe, Trag.Adesp. 412 ; Τενέδιος π. , prov. of impartial and over-harsh justice, Arist. Fr. 593 ; or of summary justice by 'cutting the knot', from the story of Tennes, St.Byz. s.v. Τένεδος (also ὁ Τέννου π. Conon 28) ; τοὺς π. ἀπέλυσε τῶν ῥάβδων took the axes from the fasces of the lictors, Plu. Publ. 10, cf. Plb. 6.53.8.

3. as an image of perseverance, κραδίη π. ὣς . . ἀτειρής Il. 3.60.

4. "ἀσκός, π." in a child's game, Thphr. Char. 5.5.

5. nickname in Com.Adesp. 824 ; cf. πρίων.

6. coin in Cyprus, prob. in Inscr.Cypr. 135.26 H. ; cf. πέλεκυ.

II. a geometrical figure, like the head of a double axe, title of AP 15.22 (Simm.). (Cf. Skt. paraśús ; loanword from Bab. pila[kudot ][kudot ], Sumer. balag 'axe'.) [The υ of nom. and acc. sg. is in Hom. sts. lengthd., Il. 3.60, 17.520 : acc. pl. πελέκεας is in Hom. always trisyll. , ^ ^ _.]