styloidadj.

Etymology: < post-classical Latin styloides (1538 or earlier), styloeides pointed like a writing implement or stylus (1540 or earlier) < Hellenistic Greek στυλοειδής pointed like a writing implement or stylus (Galen) < ancient Greek στῦλος pillar, in Hellenistic Greek also (resulting from association with classical Latin stilus , stylus , denoting a writing implement: see style n.) writing implement or stylus (see note) + -οειδής -oid suffix.Compare French styloïde (1561 in Middle French, or earlier). Confusion between στῦλος and stilus. According to Galen, the medical writer Herophilus uses στυλοειδής to denote the apophyses because many people in Alexandria and also many other Greek speakers in the east used Greek στῦλος to denote a writing implement. Further etymology of Greek στῦλος. Ancient Greek στῦλος is < the same Indo-European base (with different suffix) as Avestan stūnā pillar, ultimately < an extended form (u- extension) of the Indo-European base of stand v.; compare ( < the same extended base) ancient Greek στύειν to make stiff or erect and also (with different suffixes) σταυρός upright post (compare staurus n.), and στοά colonnade (compare stoa n.).