petalism
English
editEtymology
editFrom Middle French petalisme, and its source, Hellenistic Ancient Greek πεταλισμός (petalismós), from πέταλον (pétalon, “leaf”) (because the ballot for banishment was written on olive leaves).
Pronunciation
editNoun
editpetalism (countable and uncountable, plural petalisms)
- (historical) A form of ostracism among the ancient Syracusans by which they temporarily banished a citizen suspected of having dangerous influence or ambition. [from 17th c.]
- 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 32, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:
- Witnesse the Ostracisme amongst the Athenians, and the Petalisme among the Siracusans.