obelus

Meaning

Noun

• A symbol resembling a horizontal line (–), sometimes together with one or two dots (for example, ⨪ or ÷), which was used in ancient manuscripts and texts to mark a word or passage as doubtful or spurious, or redundant; an obelisk.
• A dagger symbol (†), which is used in printed matter as a reference mark to refer the reader to a footnote, marginal note, etc.; beside a person's name to indicate that the person is deceased; or beside a date to indicate that it is a person's death date; an obelisk.

Origin

• From Middle English obelus, obelo, from Old English obelus, from Late Latin obelus, from Koine Greek ὀβελός, Ancient Greek ὀβελός. The further etymology is Unknown; a derivation from βέλος (from Proto-Indo-European *gʷelH-) has been suggested, but the initial vowel remains unexplained. The English word is a obelisk.
• The plural form obeli is derived from Late Latin obeli, from Ancient Greek ὀβελοί.