ἀστράγαλος

English (LSJ)

[ρᾰ], ὁ, (v. ὀστέον)

   A one of the vertebrae, esp. of the neck, Il.14.466, Od.11.65, AP7.632 (Diod.); votive object, IG5 (2).125 (Tegea, ii A. D.).    II ball of the ankle joint (not to be confused with σφυρόν, Ruf.Onom.124), Hdt.3.129; in horses, X.Eq.1.15; of various animals, Hp.Int.20,30.    2 οἱ μὲν πόδες ἀστράγαλοί τευ, as a compliment, i.e. well-turned, Theoc.10.36.    III wrist, LXX Da.5.5,24.    IV pl., ἀστράγαλοι knucklebones used as dice or a game played with dice, ἀμφ' ἀστραγάλοισι χολωθείς Il.23.88, cf. Hdt.1.94, Menecr.Com.1D.; ἀ. διάσειστοι Aeschin.1.59, cf. Men. 423; ἀ. μεμολιβδωμένοι loaded dice, Arist.Pr.913a36, cf. Eust.1397.34; later, dice proper, ἀντ' ἀστραγάλων κονδύλοισι παίζετε Pherecr. 43.    V ἡ ἐκ τῶν ἀστραγάλων μάστιξ scourge of strung bones, Luc. Asin.38; cf. ἀστραγαλωτός.    VI moulding in the capital of the Ionic column, IG1.322, Vitr.3.5.7.    VII milk vetch, Orobus niger, Dsc.4.61, Gal.11.841.    VIII prism of wood, Aen.Tact.31.17, al.    IX ear-ring, ξύλινοι ἀ. Anacr.21.4.