strigil
1
9.9
A curved metal tool used to scrape oil and dirt from the skin after bathing or exercise
- noun
- /ˈstrɪdʒɪl/
- Archaic
:
estrígilo
- After competing in the games, the athletes used a strigil to scrape off excess oil and sweat from their skin.
Examples
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Also, no Europeans did not have soap, but we did have baths (oil and a strigil were used to remove dirt), not to mention public toilets or the aqueducts.
Blog text (18) -
In ancient Roman baths, people would relax while a servant used a strigil to clean their bodies after oiling.
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The strigil was an essential tool in ancient Greece, helping athletes remove dirt and oil following vigorous exercise.
Surface Forms
Etymology
Strigil comes from the old Latin word strigilis, which means 'scraper' and is linked to a Greek word that means 'to scrape'. So a strigil is a curved metal tool used to scrape oil and dirt from the skin after bathing or exercise.