καλαμοσφάκτης (Greek Word of the Week)

ὁ καλαμοσφάκτης
n. A compound of κάλαμος, a reed or writing instrument, and σφάκτης, a murderer. Thus: one who kills with a pen.

Philo’s In Flaccum contains the only extant usage, about a corrupt Alexandrian official: ὃν πολλάκις ὁ δῆμος ἅπας ὁμοθυμαδὸν εὐθυβόλως καὶ εὐσκόπως καλαμοσφάκτην ἐξεκήρυξεν (132.2).

Now, I may be taking the word too literally, but can you guess the movie scene that comes to mind when I hear this word? 🙂

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7 Responses to καλαμοσφάκτης (Greek Word of the Week)

  1. Brian B says:

    Goodfellas. In a bar, Pesci stabs some fat dude in the neck for making a sly comment. Fat dude dies. Great scene.

  2. Daniel αμνος says:

    μἐλας ἱππεὐς;

  3. Daniel αμνος says:

    this?

  4. Daniel Lam says:

    I originally thought it’s this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbzQxTfHtgY

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