Round 3585: PALINURUS Results
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Daniel B. Widdis
Oct 5, 2025, 3:00:07 PM (2 days ago) Oct 5
to Dixonary
Scoring note: I'll be away from my computer most of today. To permit the next deal to proceed without a long delay, I'm scheduling this results message to be sent at the advertised deadline of noon, prior to receiving Tony Abell's vote. If such a vote has arrived in the 3 hours since I scheduled this, please adjust accordingly.
Drugged by Somnus, the god of sleep, he falls overboard, eventually being washed ashore in Italy, at a site now known as Cape Palinuro. Drawing from this etymology, the word Palinurus (upper case) is indeed the name of a genus of spiny lobster, as Mr. Barrs knew with a presumed DQ.
But the word palinurus (lower case) is defined in the Century Dictionary as "An instrument for determining the error of a ship's compass by the bearing of celestial objects."
If you think that sounds like a pelorus, you'd be correct (and identify my intent to double fake you). Century defines pelorus nearly identically, with only a few editorial differences: "an instrument for detecting errors of the compass by the bearings of celestial objects." And the origin of that name is Pelorus, said to have been the pilot for Hannibal, killed when Hannibal suspected him of lying (later realizing he was right and naming a cape after him as a way of apology).
Other than Century, I found no other dictionaries that corroborated the different names, and initially suspected it may have been a typographical or editorial error. But the unique names of two distinct navigators led me to dig deeper. I eventually found an article in the Journal of Navigation giving the history of the pelorus (invented in 1854) which indicates there was in fact a differently-named instrument:
A third source identifies at least four existing palinurus instruments, manufactured between 1860 and 1900, in the M/S Maritime Museum in Helsingør, Denmark. The descriptions do seem to identify a different instrument serving a similar purpose, but only the pelorus seems to have survived long enough to find its way into more than one dictionary, likely due to adoption on French and US warships in the first World War, while the Danish Navy remained neutral. The journal article goes on to note:
Speaking of deserved honours, the next deal goes to Paul Keating, who collected five votes (in addition to his own) for his second-hand thing. He, along with John Barrs and Judy Madnick, guessed the true (at least in the late 19th century) meaning of the word.
But the word palinurus (lower case) is defined in the Century Dictionary as "An instrument for determining the error of a ship's compass by the bearing of celestial objects."
If you think that sounds like a pelorus, you'd be correct (and identify my intent to double fake you). Century defines pelorus nearly identically, with only a few editorial differences: "an instrument for detecting errors of the compass by the bearings of celestial objects." And the origin of that name is Pelorus, said to have been the pilot for Hannibal, killed when Hannibal suspected him of lying (later realizing he was right and naming a cape after him as a way of apology).
Other than Century, I found no other dictionaries that corroborated the different names, and initially suspected it may have been a typographical or editorial error. But the unique names of two distinct navigators led me to dig deeper. I eventually found an article in the Journal of Navigation giving the history of the pelorus (invented in 1854) which indicates there was in fact a differently-named instrument:
A few years after the production of the Pelorus, another inventor named his instrument the Palinurus after the pilot of Aeneas when he sailed in search of the empire promised him by the oracle.
A third source identifies at least four existing palinurus instruments, manufactured between 1860 and 1900, in the M/S Maritime Museum in Helsingør, Denmark. The descriptions do seem to identify a different instrument serving a similar purpose, but only the pelorus seems to have survived long enough to find its way into more than one dictionary, likely due to adoption on French and US warships in the first World War, while the Danish Navy remained neutral. The journal article goes on to note:
It is perhaps fitting that the instrument named after Palinurus is now forgotten, for his character does not bear comparison with that of Pelorus. He fell overboard when asleep and was three days in the water before he reached shore, only to be murdered by the inhabitants for the sake of his clothes. According to the ancient Roman religion no one whose body lay unburied could cross the Styx, but Aeneas when visiting the infernal regions met him and was able to promise him a magnificent monument and that the promontory should be called Palinurus after him, honours which he hardly seems to have deserved.
Speaking of deserved honours, the next deal goes to Paul Keating, who collected five votes (in addition to his own) for his second-hand thing. He, along with John Barrs and Judy Madnick, guessed the true (at least in the late 19th century) meaning of the word.
All yours, Paul!
1. A clock designed by Salvador Dali in 1932 with two concentric sets of hands and numbers, rotating in opposite directions.
Submitted by: Tim Lodge, who voted for 2 & 10 and scored 2
Votes from: Tim Bourne, Mike Shefler
2. A thing second-hand or worn, chiefly figurative: an unoriginal or overused expression, metaphor, turn of thought, etc.
Submitted by: Paul Keating, who voted for 2 & *8* and scored 5 + 2 = 8
Votes from: Tim Lodge, (Paul Keating), John Barrs, Eric Boxer, Debbie Embler, Mike Shefler
3. A now extinct European ox. In spite of earlier beliefs DNA shows it to be only distantly related to modern cattle
Submitted by: John Barrs, who voted for 2 & *8* and scored 1 + 2 = 3
Votes from: Glenn Davis
4. a measuring device used by Roman soldiers to lay out their camps.
Submitted by: Tim Bourne, who voted for 1 & 11 and scored 1
Votes from: Efrem Mallach
5. Hangnail
Submitted by: Tony Abell, who didn't vote and scored 2
Votes from: Shani Naylor, Glenn Davis
6. A temporary podium.
Submitted by: Eric Boxer, who voted for 2 & 10 and scored 1
Votes from: Debbie Embler
7. a doorwarden to a Greek temple.
Submitted by: Mike Shefler, who voted for 1 & 2 and scored 0
No Votes
8. An instrument for determining the error of a ship's compass by the bearing of celestial objects
Submitted by: Century Dictionary, and scored D3
Votes from: Judy Madnick, Paul Keating, John Barrs
9. A rare mineral compound found in volcanic ash, known for its faint bluish sheen and occasional use in specialty glassmaking.
Submitted by: Judy Madnick, who voted for *8* & 11 and scored 1 + 2 = 3
Votes from: Shani Naylor
10. A building or structure that has been rebuilt or remodeled many times, so that it no longer resembles its original plan or appearance.
Submitted by: Glenn Davis, who voted for 3 & 5 and scored 3
Votes from: Tim Lodge, Eric Boxer, Efrem Mallach
11. An oily liquid found in poison ivy and other plants which causes irritation to the skin; it is the main constituent of Japanese lacquer.
Submitted by: Shani Naylor, who voted for 5 & 9 and scored 2
Votes from: Tim Bourne, Judy Madnick
Dealer forgot to include:
Submitted by: Debbie Embler, who voted for 2 & 6 and scored 2 DP
Dealer acknowledged incorrectly:
Not submitted by: Efrem Mallach, who voted for 4 & 10 and scored 2 DP
Def Submitter Votes Guess Total
2 Paul Keating 5 2 7
10 Glenn Davis 3 3
8 Century Dictionary 3 D3
3 John Barrs 1 2 3
9 Judy Madnick 1 2 3
1 Tim Lodge 2 2
11 Shani Naylor 2 2
5 Tony Abell 2 2
Efrem Mallach 2 DP 2
Debbie Embler 2 DP 2
6 Eric Boxer 1 1
4 Tim Bourne 1 1
7 Mike Shefler 0 0
Submitted by: Tim Lodge, who voted for 2 & 10 and scored 2
Votes from: Tim Bourne, Mike Shefler
2. A thing second-hand or worn, chiefly figurative: an unoriginal or overused expression, metaphor, turn of thought, etc.
Submitted by: Paul Keating, who voted for 2 & *8* and scored 5 + 2 = 8
Votes from: Tim Lodge, (Paul Keating), John Barrs, Eric Boxer, Debbie Embler, Mike Shefler
3. A now extinct European ox. In spite of earlier beliefs DNA shows it to be only distantly related to modern cattle
Submitted by: John Barrs, who voted for 2 & *8* and scored 1 + 2 = 3
Votes from: Glenn Davis
4. a measuring device used by Roman soldiers to lay out their camps.
Submitted by: Tim Bourne, who voted for 1 & 11 and scored 1
Votes from: Efrem Mallach
5. Hangnail
Submitted by: Tony Abell, who didn't vote and scored 2
Votes from: Shani Naylor, Glenn Davis
6. A temporary podium.
Submitted by: Eric Boxer, who voted for 2 & 10 and scored 1
Votes from: Debbie Embler
7. a doorwarden to a Greek temple.
Submitted by: Mike Shefler, who voted for 1 & 2 and scored 0
No Votes
8. An instrument for determining the error of a ship's compass by the bearing of celestial objects
Submitted by: Century Dictionary, and scored D3
Votes from: Judy Madnick, Paul Keating, John Barrs
9. A rare mineral compound found in volcanic ash, known for its faint bluish sheen and occasional use in specialty glassmaking.
Submitted by: Judy Madnick, who voted for *8* & 11 and scored 1 + 2 = 3
Votes from: Shani Naylor
10. A building or structure that has been rebuilt or remodeled many times, so that it no longer resembles its original plan or appearance.
Submitted by: Glenn Davis, who voted for 3 & 5 and scored 3
Votes from: Tim Lodge, Eric Boxer, Efrem Mallach
11. An oily liquid found in poison ivy and other plants which causes irritation to the skin; it is the main constituent of Japanese lacquer.
Submitted by: Shani Naylor, who voted for 5 & 9 and scored 2
Votes from: Tim Bourne, Judy Madnick
Dealer forgot to include:
Submitted by: Debbie Embler, who voted for 2 & 6 and scored 2 DP
Dealer acknowledged incorrectly:
Not submitted by: Efrem Mallach, who voted for 4 & 10 and scored 2 DP
Def Submitter Votes Guess Total
2 Paul Keating 5 2 7
10 Glenn Davis 3 3
8 Century Dictionary 3 D3
3 John Barrs 1 2 3
9 Judy Madnick 1 2 3
1 Tim Lodge 2 2
11 Shani Naylor 2 2
5 Tony Abell 2 2
Efrem Mallach 2 DP 2
Debbie Embler 2 DP 2
6 Eric Boxer 1 1
4 Tim Bourne 1 1
7 Mike Shefler 0 0
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