pons asinorum

Meaning

Noun

• A method for finding the middle term of a syllogism in Aristotlean analytics.
• An obstacle which will defeat a beginner or foolish person.
• A proposition in Euclid stating that the angles at the base of an isoceles triangle are equal.

Origin

• New Latin pons asinorum, from Latin pōns ("bridge") + genitive plural of asinus.