lepadotemachoselachogaleokranioleipsanodrimypotrimmatosilphiotyromelitokatakechymenokichlepikossyphophattoperisteralektryonoptokephaliokinklopeleiolagoiosiraiobaphetragalopterygon

English

Etymology

Wikipedia

Transliteration of Ancient Greek λοπαδοτεμαχοσελαχογαλεοκρανιολειψανοδριμυποτριμματοσιλφιοκαραβομελιτοκατακεχυμενοκιχλεπικοσσυφοφ αττοπεριστεραλεκτρυονοπτοκεφαλλιοκιγκλοπελειολαγῳοσιραιοβαφητραγανοπτερύγων, the notorious 171-letter Greek word constructed by the ancient Greek comedian Aristophanes (stringing together words to form compound words in Greek is common, and Aristophanes is poking fun at the length of the words that sometimes result). See the Ancient Greek spelling for a full etymology.

There is some disagreement as to the original form and also as to the correct transliteration.

Noun

lepado­temacho­selacho­galeo­kranio­leipsano­drim­hypotrimmato­silphio­paraomelito­katakechymeno­kichl­epi­kossypho­phatto­perister­alektryon­opte­kephallio­kigklo­peleio­lagoio­siraio­baphe­tragano­pterygon

1. (nonce word) A supposed Greek dish consisting of 17 ingredients.
   • 1938 — "Ecclesiazusae" in The Complete Greek Drama, vol. 2. (Random House, Eugene O'Neill, ed.)

     Very soon we'll be eating lepadotemachoselachogaleokranioleipsanodrimypotrimmatosilphiotyromelitokatakechymenokichlepikossyphophattoperisteralektryonoptokephaliokinklopeleiolagoiosiraiobaphetragalopterygon. Come, quickly, seize hold of a plate, snatch up a cup, and let's run to secure a place at table.

Alternative forms

• lopadotemachoselachogaleokranioleipsanodrimhypotrimmatosilphioparaomelitokatakechymenokichlepikossyphophattoperisteralektryonoptekephalliokigklopeleiolagoiosiraiobaphetraganopterygon.