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phalanx

phalanx

1 9.8
A group of soldiers standing close together in straight, tight rows
  • noun
  • /ˈfeɪlæŋks/
translation icon : falange
  • Their hoplite infantry fought with large, heavy Shields and Spears in a tight phalanx formation.
  • hoplite phalanx

He goes and conquers the Persian Empire, makes himself the Persian king of kings with this phalanx of troops armed with the serissa.

Examples

  • Cut to: Documentary footage - 11. Kent State University - (1970) - A phalanx of National Guardsmen advances.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • I drew up the spearmen in a formation much like the Macedonian phalanx.

  • All right, take what men we have left and form a phalanx around the Mother Box.

  • One hop light battle phalanx against another hop light phalanx.

  • Looks like we're moving up against a big late Libyan phalanx with these hop lights.

  • Hannibal, looking out, sees what he would take to be the normal square Roman phalanx.

  • The phalanx charged into the beachhead the cavalry had carved.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Mandoma gives a command, and the Africans form a phalanx around the women.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Seeing the Spartans retreating, Allied phalanxes left the field.

  • Charging together in a formation called a phalanx, hoplites made for a powerful army.

Synonyms

shield wall
vsphalanx
1 7.5

A line of soldiers holding shields close together to form a strong defence

is arranged as a close rectangle for group movement and attack
close order
vsphalanx
  • Specialized
1 7.4

A tight group of soldiers standing or marching together for drill

is a tight rectangular combat formation used in ancient warfare

How Cohesive

phalanx
1 9.8
battalion
  • Specialized
150 7.2
formation
122 3.6
group
1.0
crowd
1.0
cluster
210 3.1
collection
93 1.9

Surface Forms

phalanx singular
phalanxes plural
phalanxen plural

Etymology

Phalanx comes from an old Greek word meaning 'line' or 'finger', because ancient soldiers stood close together in a tight row like the fingers of a hand; that's why phalanx means a close formation of soldiers.