Definition of Scylla

1. Noun. (Greek mythology) a sea nymph transformed into a sea monster who lived on one side of a narrow strait; drowned and devoured sailors who tried to escape Charybdis (a whirlpool) on the other side of the strait.

Category relationships: Greek Mythology
Generic synonyms: Mythical Being

Definition of Scylla

1. n. A dangerous rock on the Italian coast opposite the whirpool Charybdis on the coast of Sicily, -- both personified in classical literature as ravenous monsters. The passage between them was formerly considered perilous; hence, the saying "Between Scylla and Charybdis," signifying a great peril on either hand.

Definition of Scylla

1. Proper noun. A dangerous rock on the Italian coast opposite the whirlpool Charybdis on the coast of Sicily. The passage between ''Scylla'' and ''Charybdis'' was formerly considered perilous; hence, the saying ''between Scylla and Charybdis'' signifies a great peril on either hand. ¹

2. Proper noun. (Greek mythology) A personification of the above rock as a ravenous monster. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of Scylla

Scultetus' bandage
Scultetus' position
Scunner
Scunners
Scutellaria
Scutellaria lateriflora
Scutigera
Scutigera coleoptrata
Scutigerella
Scutigerella immaculata
Scutigeridae
Scutum
Scyliorhinidae
Scylla
Scyphozoa
Scyth
Scythia
Scythian
Scythian lamb
Scythians
Scyths
Scáthach
Se
Sea of Azof
Sea of Azoff
Sea of Azov
Sea of Cortes
Sea of Galilee

Literary usage of Scylla

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. A General Collection of the Best and Most Interesting Voyages and Travels in by John Pinkerton (1809)
"Great danger of da/hing on the rock of scylla when the current ... scylla and Charybdis, according to the ancients, dangerous from frequent tempc/ls and ..."

2. The Age of Fable; Or, Stories of Gods and Heroes by Thomas Bulfinch (1856)
"Nisus was king of Megara, and scylla was his daughter. ... To this tower scylla used to repair, and look abroad over the tents of the hostile army. ..."

3. The Naval History of Great Britain: From the Declaration of War by France in by William James, Frederick Chamier (1837)
"M., being much cut up in their sails and rigging, and the scylla having her ... The Royalist accordingly bore up, and the scylla continued following the ..."

4. The Odyssey by Homer (1905)
"BOOK TWELFTH THE SIRENS; scylla AND CHARYBDIS; THE OXEN OF THE SUN " BUT when our ship, behind her leaving far The Ocean-current and ..."

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