trepan (v.) — trireme (n.)
c. 1400, from Old French trépaner (14c.), from trepan (n.), the name of the tool with which it was done, from Medieval Latin trepanum "a saw for cutting out small pieces of bone from the skull," from Greek trypanon "a borer, an auger, a carpenter's tool; a surgeon's trepan," from trypan "to bore," related to trype "hole" (cognate with Old Church Slavonic truplu "hollow"), from PIE *trup-, from root *tere- (1) "to rub, turn." Related: Trepanned; trepanning.ETD trepan (v.).2
an improved kind of trepan, 1620s, from French trephine, which is said to be from Latin tres fines "three ends," but perhaps rather an arbitrary diminutive of trepan. As a verb from 1804. Related: Trephining; trephination.ETD trephine (n.).2
"trembling from fear or terror," 1640s, from Latin trepidus "scared" (see trepidation). Related: Trepidly; trepidness.ETD trepid (adj.).2
c. 1600, from French trepidation (15c.) and directly from Latin trepidationem (nominative trepidatio) "agitation, alarm, trembling," noun of action from past-participle stem of trepidare "to tremble, hurry," from trepidus "alarmed, scared," from PIE *trep- (1) "to shake, tremble" (source also of Sanskrit trprah "hasty," Old Church Slavonic trepetati "to tremble"), related to *trem- (see tremble (v.)). Related: Trepidacious (1915).ETD trepidation (n.).2
c. 1300, "transgress in some active manner, commit an aggressive offense, to sin," from Old French trespasser "pass beyond or across, cross, traverse; infringe, violate," from tres- "beyond" (from Latin trans; see trans-) + passer "go by, pass" (see pass (v.)). Meaning "enter unlawfully" is first attested in forest laws of Scottish Parliament (c. 1455). The Modern French descendant of Old French trespasser, trépasser, has come to be used euphemistically for "to die" (compare euphemistic use of cross over, and obituary). Related: Trespassed; trespassing.ETD trespass (v.).2
c. 1300, "a transgression," from Old French trespas, verbal noun from trespasser (see trespass (v.)). Related: Trespasses.ETD trespass (n.).2
c. 1300, "long lock of hair," from Old French tresse "a plait or braid of hair" (12c.), of uncertain origin, perhaps from Vulgar Latin *trichia "braid, rope," from Greek trikhia "rope," from thrix (genitive trikhos) "hair." Related: Tresses.ETD tress (n.).2
"arrange in tresses," mid-14c., from Old French trecier (12c.), from tresse (see tress (n.)).ETD tress (v.).2
see trestle.ETD tressel (n.).2
early 14c., "a support for something," from Old French trestel "crossbeam" (12c., Modern French tréteu), presumed to be an alteration of Vulgar Latin *transtellum, diminutive of transtrum "beam, crossbar" (see transom). Specific meaning "support for a bridge" is recorded from 1796.ETD trestle (n.).2
"allowance on goods sold by weight," c. 1500, of unknown origin; perhaps related to trait "act of drawing."ETD tret (n.).2
surname, from Trevor, Denbeigh.ETD Trevor.2
word-forming element meaning "three, having three, once every three," from Latin tres (neuter tria) or Greek treis, trias "three" (see three).ETD tri-.2
"tested, proven, trusty," mid-14c., past-participle adjective from try (v.). Coupled since mid-14c. with true.ETD tried (adj.).2
1540s, "group or set of three," from Late Latin trias (genitive triadis), from Greek trias (genitive triados) "a triad, the number three," from treis "three" (see three). Musical sense of "chord of three notes" is from 1801. Related: Triadic.ETD triad (n.).2
1727, "action of assorting according to quality," from French triage "a picking out, sorting" (14c.), from Old French trier "to pick, cull" (see try (v.)). There seems to be some influence from or convergence with Latin tria "three" (as in triage for "coffee beans of the third or lowest quality"). In World War I, adopted for the sorting of wounded soldiers into groups according to the severity of their injuries, from French use.ETD triage (n.).2
mid-15c., "act or process of testing, a putting to proof by examination, experiment, etc.," from Anglo-French trial, noun formed from trier "to try" (see try (v.)). Sense of "examining and deciding of the issues between parties in a court of law" is first recorded 1570s; extended to any ordeal by 1590s.ETD trial (n.).2
As an adjectival phrase, trial-and-error is recorded from 1806. Trial balloon (1826) translates French ballon d'essai, a small balloon sent up immediately before a manned ascent to determine the direction and tendency of winds in the upper air, though the earliest use in English is figurative.ETD trial (n.).3
late 14c., from Old French triangle (13c.), from Latin triangulum "triangle," noun use of neuter of adjective triangulus "three-cornered, having three angles," from tri- "three" (see tri-) + angulus "corner, angle" (see angle (n.)).ETD triangle (n.).2
1809, from French triangulation, from Medieval Latin triangulationem (mid-12c., nominative triangulatio), noun of action from Latin *triangulare, from triangulum (see triangle).ETD triangulation (n.).2
1833, originally in surveying, from Latin triangulum "a triangle" (see triangle) + -ate (2). Related: Triangulated; triangulating. Figurative use by 1860.ETD triangulate (v.).2
1680s, from triangular + -ity.ETD triangularity (n.).2
c. 1400, from Late Latin triangularis "triangular, pertaining to a triangle," from Latin triangulus "with three corners" (the usual adjective in classical Latin), as a noun, "a triangle;" see triangle. Related: Triangularly.ETD triangular (adj.).2
1630s, from tri- + annual (adj.). Related: Triannually.ETD triannual (adj.).2
1841, from German, coined 1841 by German geologist Friedrich August von Alberti (1795-1878), from Trias "period preceding the Jurassic," from Greek trias "triad, the number three" (see triad). So called because it is divisible (in Germany) into three groups.ETD Triassic (adj.).2
by 1983; see triathlon + athlete.ETD triathlete (n.).2
1970, from tri- "three" + Greek athlon "contest;" formed on model of decathlon, biathlon, etc. Originally of various combinations of events; one of the earliest so called combined clay-pigeon shooting, fly-fishing, and horse-jumping; another was cross-country skiing, target shooting, and a giant slalom run; and a third connected to the U.S. Army involved shooting, swimming, and running. Applied to the combination of a long swim, a bicycle-race, and a marathon by 1981.ETD triathlon (n.).2
1886, from tri- + axial.ETD triaxial (adj.).2
"lesbian sexual activity," 1811, with -ism + tribade (n.), c. 1600, "a lesbian," from French tribade (16c.) or directly from Latin tribas, from Greek tribas, from tribein "to rub, rub down, wear away," from PIE root *tere- (1) "to rub, turn." In reference to a specific sexual technique, from 1965.ETD tribadism (n.).2
1630s, "pertaining to or characteristic of tribes," from tribe + -al (1). Meaning "characterized by a strong sense of loyalty to one's group" is from 1951 (Arendt). As a style of belly-dance from 1999, American English. Related: Tribally.ETD tribal (adj.).2
1868, "condition of being a tribe," from tribal + -ism. Meaning "group loyalty" attested by 1955.ETD tribalism (n.).2
mid-13c., "one of the twelve divisions of the ancient Hebrews," from Old French tribu or directly from Latin tribus "one of the three political/ethnic divisions of the original Roman state" (Tites, Ramnes, and Luceres, corresponding, perhaps, to the Latins, Sabines, and Etruscans), later, one of the 30 political divisions instituted by Servius Tullius (increased to 35 in 241 B.C.E.), of unknown origin. Perhaps from tri- "three" + *bheue-, root of the verb be. Others connect the word with the PIE root *treb- "a dwelling" (see tavern).ETD tribe (n.).2
In the Biblical sense, which was the original one in English, the Latin word translates Greek phyle "race or tribe of men, body of men united by ties of blood and descent, a clan" (see phylo-). Extension to modern ethnic groups or races of people is from 1590s, specifically "a division of a barbarous race of people, usually distinguishable in some way from their congeners, united into a community under a recognized head or chief" [Century Dictionary], but colloquially of any aggregate of individuals of a kind.ETD tribe (n.).3
1983, area in Manhattan between Broadway and the Hudson, south of Greenwich Village, from "triangle below Canal (Street)."ETD TriBeCa.2
1798, from genitive of tribe (n.) + man (n.).ETD tribesman (n.).2
1965, "study of friction," from Greek tribos "rubbing," from tribein "to rub, rub down, wear away" (from PIE root *tere- (1) "to rub, turn") + -logy.ETD tribology (n.).2
"a state of affliction or oppression, suffering, distress," c. 1200, from Old French tribulacion (12c.), from Church Latin tribulationem (nominative tribulatio) "distress, trouble, affliction," noun of action from past-participle stem of tribulare "to oppress, afflict," a figurative use by Christian writers of Latin tribulare "to press," also possibly "to thresh out grain," from tribulum "threshing sledge," from stem of terere "to rub" (from PIE root *tere- (1) "to rub, turn") + -bulum, suffix forming names of tools.ETD tribulation (n.).2
early 15c., "a judgment seat," from Old French tribunal "justice seat, judgment seat" (13c.) and directly from Latin tribunal "platform for the seat of magistrates, elevation, embankment," from tribunus "official in ancient Rome, magistrate," literally "head of a tribe" (see tribune). Hence, "a court of justice or judicial assembly" (1580s).ETD tribunal (n.).2
late 14c., title of an official in ancient Rome, from Latin tribunus "magistrate" (specifically one of the officers appointed to protect the rights and interests of the plebeians from the patricians), originally "head of a tribe" (in the Roman sense), from tribus (see tribe). Also "raised platform" (1762), from Italian tribuna, from Medieval Latin tribuna, from Latin tribunal in its classical sense "platform for the seats of magistrates in ancient Rome."ETD tribune (n.).2
mid-14c., "stated sum of money or other valuable consideration paid by one ruler or country to another in acknowledgment of submission or as the price of peace or protection," from Anglo-French tribute, Old French tribut and directly from Latin tributum "tribute, a stated payment, a thing contributed or paid," noun use of neuter of tributus, past participle of tribuere "to pay, assign, grant," also "allot among the tribes or to a tribe," from tribus (see tribe). Sense of "offering, gift, token" is first recorded 1580s.ETD tribute (n.).2
late 14c., "person, country, etc. owing obedience or paying tribute or a tax to a sovereign or another people," from Latin tributarius (see tributary (adj.)). Meaning "stream that flows into a larger body" is from 1822, from the adjective in this sense, which is recorded from 1610s.ETD tributary (n.).2
late 14c., "paying tribute," from Latin tributarius "liable to tax or tribute," from tributum (see tribute).ETD tributary (adj.).2
late 14c., "haul up and fasten with a rope," from Middle Dutch trisen "hoist," from trise "pulley," of unknown origin. Hence at a tryse (mid-15c.) "in a very short time," literally "at a single pluck or pull." The Middle Dutch word is the source of Dutch trijsen "to hoist" and is cognate with Middle Low German trissen (source of Danish trisse, German triezen); its etymology is unknown.ETD trice (v.).2
also tri-centennial, "comprising three hundred years; including or relating to an interval of three hundred years," 1818; as a noun, "day observed as a festival in commemoration of something that happened three hundred years before," 1872. See tri- + centennial.ETD tricentennial (adj.).2
the great extensor muscle, 1704, from Latin triceps "three-headed," from tri- "three" (see tri-) + -ceps, from caput "head" (from PIE root *kaput- "head"). So called because the muscle has three origins.ETD triceps (n.).2
dinosaur genus, 1890, from Greek trikeratos "three-horned" + ōps "face," etymologically "eye," from PIE root *okw- "to see." The first element is from tri- "three" (see three) + keras (genitive keratos) "horn of an animal," from PIE root *ker- (1) "horn; head."ETD triceratops (n.).2
"disease caused by trichinae," 1864, coined by Bernhard Rupprecht (1815-1877) by 1864 from trichina (1835), Modern Latin, genus name of the minute, hair-like parasitic worms that cause it, from Greek trikhine, fem. of trikhinos "of or like hair," from thrix (genitive trikhos) "hair."ETD trichinosis (n.).2
1915, with -iasis + trichomonas, genus of a family of flagellate parasites, from tricho-, Latinized form of Greek trikho-, combining form of thrix (genitive trikhos) "hair" + -monas.ETD trichomoniasis (n.).2
1905, from French trichotillomanie (1889), from tricho-, Latinized form of Greek trikho-, combining form of thrix (genitive trikhos) "hair" + Greek tillesthai "to pull out" + mania.ETD trichotillomania (n.).2
"deceive by trickery," 1590s, from trick (n.). Related: Tricked; tricking. The sense of "to dress, adorn" (c. 1500) is perhaps a different word entirely.ETD trick (v.).2
early 15c., "a cheat, a mean ruse," from Old North French trique "trick, deceit, treachery, cheating," from trikier "to deceive, to cheat," variant of Old French trichier "to cheat, trick, deceive," of uncertain origin, probably from Vulgar Latin *triccare, from Latin tricari "be evasive, shuffle," from tricæ "trifles, nonsense, a tangle of difficulties," of unknown origin.ETD trick (n.).2
Meaning "a roguish prank" is recorded from 1580s; sense of "the art of doing something" is first attested 1610s. Meaning "prostitute's client" is first attested 1915; earlier it was U.S. slang for "a robbery" (1865).ETD trick (n.).3
To do the trick "accomplish one's purpose" is from 1812; to miss a trick "fail to take advantage of opportunity" is from 1889; from 1872 in reference to playing the card-game of whist, which might be the original literal sense. Trick-or-treat as a children's Halloween pastime is recorded from 1927 in Canada. Trick question is from 1907.ETD trick (n.).4
1719, from trick (v.) + -ery.ETD trickery (n.).2
1786, "characterized by tricks," from trick (n.) + -y (2). Meaning "deceptively difficult" is from 1868. Related: Trickily; trickiness. Earlier was tricksy (1590s).ETD tricky (adj.).2
late 14c., intransitive, of uncertain origin, possibly a shortened variant of stricklen "to trickle," a frequentative form of striken "to flow, move" (see strike (v.)). Transitive sense from c. 1600. Related: Trickled; trickling. Trickle-down as an adjectival phrase in an economic sense first recorded 1944; the image had been in use at least since Teddy Roosevelt.ETD trickle (v.).2
1570s, from trickle (v.).ETD trickle (n.).2
1711, from trick (n.) + -ster.ETD trickster (n.).2
also tricolour, 1798, "flag having three colors," especially the emblem of France adopted during the Revolution, from French tricolore, in drapeau tricolore "three-colored flag." The arrangement of colors on the modern French national flag dates from 1794.ETD tricolor (n.).2
knitted fabric, 1859, from French tricot "knitting, knitted work," from tricoter "to knit," of uncertain origin, probably a variant of Old French estriquer "to smooth," from a Germanic source (such as Middle Low German striken "pass over lightly").ETD tricot (n.).2
1660s, from Latin tricuspidem (nominative tricuspis) "three-pointed," from tri- (see tri-) + cuspis "point" (see cusp).ETD tricuspid (n.).2
1828, "three-wheeled horse-drawn carriage," from French tricycle (1827); see tri- + cycle (n.). The pedal-powered version is first attested 1868.ETD tricycle (n.).2
"three-pointed spear," mid-15c., from Latin noun use of adjective tridentem (nominative tridens) "three-pronged, three-toothed," from tri- "three" (see tri-) + dens "tooth" (from PIE root *dent- "tooth"). As a type of U.S. nuclear-powered submarine, recorded from 1972. Related: Tridental.ETD trident (n.).2
1630s, "lasting three years;" 1640s, "occurring every three years," with -al (1) + Latin triennium "three-year period," from tri- "three" (see tri-) + annus "year" (see annual (adj.)). For vowel change, see biennial. As a noun, 1630s. Related: Triennially.ETD triennial (adj.).2
city in Germany (French Trèves), founded c. 15 B.C.E. by Augustus, named for the indigenous Gaulish people, the Treveri.ETD Trier.2
1974, from tri- + perfecta.ETD trifecta (n.).2
"divided into three lobes," 1620s, from Latin trifidus "cleft in three," from tri- "three" (see tri-) + -fid. This adjective probably inspired triffid, the name of the three-legged walking poisonous plants in John Wyndham's novel "The Day of the Triffids" (1951).ETD trifid (adj.).2
c. 1200, trufle "false or idle tale," later "matter of little importance" (c. 1300), from Old French trufle "mockery," diminutive of truffe "deception," of uncertain origin. As a type of light confection from 1755.ETD trifle (n.).2
"treat lightly," 1520s, from trifle (n.). Earlier "cheat, mock" (c. 1300). Related: Trifled; trifling.ETD trifle (v.).2
1899, from bifocals with tri-.ETD trifocals (n.).2
1895 as a shortening of trigonometry.ETD trig (n.).2
"smart, trim," c. 1200, from Old Norse tryggr "firm, trusty, true," from Proto-Germanic *treuwaz "having or characterized by good faith," from PIE *drew-o-, a suffixed form of the root *deru- "be firm, solid, steadfast." A Scottish and northern word only until 19c. Related: Trigness.ETD trig (adj.).2
1815, from Latin trigeminus "born in threes," as a noun, "triplets;" from tri- (see tri-) + geminus "born at the same birth" (see geminate (adj.)).ETD trigeminal (adj.).2
"device by means of which a catch or spring is released and a mechanism set in action," 1650s, earlier tricker (1620s), from Dutch trekker "trigger," from trekken "to pull" (see trek). Tricker was the usual form in English until c. 1750. Trigger-finger "forefinger as used to pull the trigger of a gun" is attested by 1814. Trigger-happy "ready to shoot (or otherwise react violently) on the slightest provocation" is attested from 1942.ETD trigger (n.).2
"cause (something) to happen," 1930, an image from trigger (n.). In recent use especially psychological, "to cause an intense and usually negative emotional reaction (in a person or animal)," by 1986. Related: Triggered; triggering.ETD trigger (v.).2
1860, malformed from tri- + glyceride. So called for the three radicals which replace the three hydrogen atoms.ETD triglyceride (n.).2
1811; see trigonometry + -ic. Related: Trigonometrical (1660s).ETD trigonometric (adj.).2
"branch of mathematics that deals with relations between sides and angles of triangles," 1610s, from Modern Latin trigonometria (Barthelemi Pitiscus, 1595), from Greek trigonon "triangle" (from tri- "three" (see tri-) + gōnia "angle, corner" (from PIE root *genu- (1) "knee; angle") + metron "a measure" (from PIE root *me- (2) "to measure").ETD trigonometry (n.).2
short for tricycle, 1883.ETD trike (n.).2
1650s, from Late Latin trilaterus "three-sided;" see tri- + lateral. The Trilateral Commission (representing Japan, the U.S., and Europe) was founded 1973. Related: Trilateralism; trilaterally.ETD trilateral (adj.).2
type of hat, 1897, from name of Trilby O'Ferrall, eponymous heroine of the novel by George du Maurier (1834-1896), published in 1894. In the stage version of the novel, the character wore this type of soft felt hat. In plural, also slang for "feet" (1895), in reference to the eroticism attached in the novel to the heroine's bare feet. Related: Trilbies.ETD trilby (n.).2
1670s, from dilemma + tri-.ETD trilemma (n.).2
"involving three languages," 1834, from tri- + Latin lingua "language," literally "tongue" (from PIE root *dnghu- "tongue"). Latin trilinguis meant "triple-tongued," and was used of Cerberus.ETD trilingual (adj.).2
1640s, from Italian trillio, triglio "a quavering or warbling in singing," probably ultimately of imitative origin. The verb is 1660s, from Italian trillare "to quaver, trill." Related: Trilled; trilling.ETD trill (n.).2
1680s, from French trillion, from Italian trilione; see tri- + million. In the U.S., the fourth power of a thousand (one thousand billion, 1 followed by 12 zeroes); in Great Britain, the third power of a million (one million billion, 1 followed by 18 zeroes), which is the original sense. Compare billion.ETD trillion.2
1820, from trillion + -th (1).ETD trillionth.2
1768, from Modern Latin trillium (Linnaeus, 1753), from Latin tri- "three" (see three). So called for its leaves and flower segments.ETD trillium (n.).2
early 13c., "the Father, Son and Holy Spirit," constituting one God in prevailing Christian doctrine, from Old French trinite "Holy Trinity" (11c.), from Late Latin trinitatem (nominative trinitas) "Trinity, triad" (Tertullian), from Latin trinus "threefold, triple," from plural of trini "three at a time, threefold," related to tres (neuter tria) "three" (see three).ETD trinity (n.).2
The Latin word was widely borrowed in European languages with the spread of Christianity (Irish trionnoid, Welsh trindod, German trinität). Old English used þrines as a loan-translation of Latin trinitas. Related: Trinitarian.ETD trinity (n.).3
1530s, of unknown origin. Evidently a diminutive form, perhaps related to trick (n.).ETD trinket (n.).2
1670s, "having three names," from tri- + second element from binomial. In mathematics, "consisting of three terms" (1704).ETD trinomial (adj.).2
1724, "composition for three voices," from French trio (c. 1600), from Italian trio, from tri- "three" (see three); patterned on duo. Meaning "group of three persons" is from 1789.ETD trio (n.).2
verse form, from French triolet, a diminutive of trio (see trio).ETD triolet (n.).2
late 14c., "tread or step lightly and nimbly, skip, dance, caper," from Old French triper "jump around, dance around, strike with the feet" (12c.), from a Germanic source (compare Middle Dutch trippen "to skip, trip, hop; to stamp, trample," Low German trippeln, Frisian tripje, Dutch trappen, Old English treppan "to tread, trample") related to trap (n.).ETD trip (v.).2
The senses of "to stumble" (intransitive), "strike with the foot and cause to stumble" (transitive) are from mid-15c. in English. The meaning "to release" (a catch, lever, etc.) is recorded from 1897; trip-wire is attested from 1868. The old sense of "dance, caper, move nimbly" was common in the Elizabethan dramatists ("Trip it, gipsies, trip it fine") and is preserved in the archaism trip the light fantastic (toe) for "to dance," based on a couplet from Milton:ETD trip (v.).3
The short version, omitting toe, is attested by 1847. Related: Tripped; tripping.ETD trip (v.).4
"act or action of tripping" (transitive), early 14c., from trip (v.); the sense of "a short journey or voyage" is from mid-15c.; the exact connection to the earlier sense is uncertain. The meaning "psychedelic drug experience" is attested from 1959 as a noun; the verb in this sense is from 1966, from the noun.ETD trip (n.).2
"divided in three," early 15c., from Latin tripartitus "divided into three parts," from tri- "three" (see three) + partitus, past participle of partiri "to divide" (from pars "a part, piece, a share," from PIE root *pere- (2) "to grant, allot").ETD tripartite (adj.).2
c. 1300, from Old French tripe "guts, intestines, entrails used as food" (13c.), of unknown origin, perhaps via Spanish tripa from Arabic therb "suet" [Klein, Barnhart]. Applied contemptuously to persons (1590s), then to anything considered worthless, foolish, or offensive (1892).ETD tripe (n.).2
late 14c., from Medieval Latin triplare "to triple," from Latin triplus "threefold, triple" (see triple (adj.)). Related: Tripled; tripling.ETD triple (v.).2
early 15c., from Old French triple or directly from Latin triplus "threefold, triple," from tri- "three" (see tri-) + -plus "-fold" (see -plus). As a noun, early 15c., "a triple sum or quantity," from the adjective. The baseball sense of "a three-base hit" is attested from 1880. Related: Triply (adv.). Triple-decker is from 1940 of sandwiches and wedding cakes, 1942 of beds.ETD triple (adj.).2
1650s, "three successive lines of poetry," from triple; perhaps patterned on couplet.ETD triplet (n.).2
Extended to a set of three of anything by 1733, and to three children at the same birth by 1787. Another word for this was trin, 1831, on the model of twin; and an adjective tergeminous (1650s) referred to "one of three born at the same time."ETD triplet (n.).3
The musical meaning "three notes played in the time of two" is from 1801.ETD triplet (n.).4
early 15c., "triple, threefold," from Latin triplicatus, past participle of triplicare "to triple," from tri- "three" (see tri-) + plicare "to fold" (from PIE root *plek- "to plait").ETD triplicate (adj.).2
"to multiply by three," 1620s, from Latin triplicatus (see triplicate (adj.)). Related: Triplicated; triplicating; triplication.ETD triplicate (v.).2
c. 1600, "three-legged vessel," c. 1600, from Latin tripus (genitive tripodis), from Greek tripous (genitive tripodos) "a three-legged stool or table," noun use of adjective meaning "three-footed," from tri- "three" (see tri-) + pous (genitive podos) "foot" (from PIE root *ped- "foot"). Related: Tripodal.ETD tripod (n.).2
both the Libyan capital and the Lebanese port city represent Greek tri- "three" (see tri-) + polis "city" (see polis). In Libya, Tripolis was the name of a Phoenician colony consisting of Oea (which grew into modern Tripoli), Leptis Magna, and Sabratha. Arabic distinguishes them as Tarabulus ash-sham ("Syrian Tripoli") and Tarabulus al-garb ("Western Tripoli").ETD Tripoli.2
"three-part altar-piece carvings or pictures hinged together," 1849, based on Italian triptica, from tri- "three" on model of diptych.ETD triptych (n.).2
"ancient ship with three rows of oars," c. 1600, from Latin triremis, from tri- "three" (see tri-) + remus "oar" (from PIE root *ere- "to row").ETD trireme (n.).2