obelus


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ob·e·lus

 (ŏb′ə-ləs)
n. pl. ob·e·li (-lī′)
1. A mark (— or ÷) used in ancient manuscripts to indicate a doubtful or spurious passage.
2. Printing See obelisk.
[Middle English, from Late Latin obelus, from Greek obelos, a spit, obelus.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

obelus

(ˈɒbɪləs)
n, pl -li (-ˌlaɪ)
1. (Printing, Lithography & Bookbinding) a mark (— or ÷) used in editions of ancient documents to indicate spurious words or passages
2. (Printing, Lithography & Bookbinding) another name for dagger2
[C14: via Late Latin from Greek obelos spit]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ob•e•lus

(ˈɒb ə ləs)

n., pl. -li (-ˌlaɪ)
a mark (− or ÷) used in ancient manuscripts to point out questionable words or passages.
[1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin < Greek obelós spit, pointed pillar]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
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References in periodicals archive ?
The 35-year-old mathematician said it would be clear if the equation was written using fractions instead of division, or obelus, symbol.
Mathematician explains tricky maths question that's been dividing the Internet; University College London associate professor Hannah Fry explained the two possibilities to the mind-boggling algebra equation
Statistical differences between methods are indicated by an obelus ([dagger]).
Evaluation of Goniometry and Electrogoniometry of Carpus and Elbow Joints in the Barred Owl (Strix varia)
In reference to Syriac Fox uses the term obelus, meaning an ancient sign that something is corrupted or spurious.
Proverbs. An Eclectic Edition with Introduction and Textual Commentary
OBELUS A South American weapon B Mouthful of food C Mark in a manuscript who am I?
Time out extra
Pfeiffer 1968, 115: "Zenodotus did not suppress the lines of which he doubted the genuineness, but left them in the context, marking them, however, on the margin with the obelus; he disclosed his own opinion and enabled the reader to check it"; also Montanari 2011, 2-3 for a recent reiteration of these views.
Illusions and vanishing acts: Homeric recension, athetesis, and magic in P. Oxy 412 (PGM XXIII)

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