scytale

noun

scyt·​a·​le

ˈsitᵊl(ˌ)ē

plural -s

1

: a method of cipher writing used especially by the Spartans in which a narrow strip of parchment was wound on a rod and the message written across the adjoining edges

2

a

: a message written in the scytale cipher

b

: a parchment bearing such a message

Word History

Etymology

Latin scytale, scytala, scutula, from Greek skytalē staff, cylinder, message

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