an ornament in the shape of three intersecting ellipses roughly forming a triangle
triquetra in American English
(traiˈkwitrə, -ˈkwe-)
noun
a geometrical figure having three points, esp. one formed of three intersecting ellipses
The triquetra was often used in ancient art to symbolize a triune deity
Derived forms
triquetric (traiˈkwetrɪk)
adjective
Word origin
[1580–90; ‹ NL, n. use of fem. of L triquetrustriquetrous]This word is first recorded in the period 1580–90. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: classical, cockpit, critical, piggyback, stigma