Illustration of triton
- triton 2
triton
1 of 2noun (1)
tri·ton ˈtrī-tᵊn 
1
capitalized : a son of Poseidon described as a demigod of the sea with the lower part of his body like that of a fish
2
[New Latin, genus name, from Latin Triton] : any of various large marine gastropod mollusks (family Ranellidae synonym Cymatiidae) with a heavy elongated conical shell
also : the shell
triton
2 of 2noun (2)
tri·ton ˈtrī-ˌtän
: the nucleus of tritium
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Triton and Mermaids
Triton was originally the son of the sea god Poseidon (or Neptune). A guardian of the fish and other creatures of the sea, he is usually shown as hearty, muscular, and cheerful. Like his father, he often carries a trident (three-pronged fork) and may ride in a chariot drawn by seahorses. Blowing on his conch shell, he creates the roar of the ocean. As a decorative image, Tritons are simply the male version of mermaids. The handsome seashells that bear their name are the very conchs on which they blow. Triton has also given his name to the planet Neptune's largest moon.
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Latin, from Greek Tritōn
Noun (2)
tritium + -on entry 2
First Known Use
Noun (1)
1536, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (2)
1934, in the meaning defined above
- in force
- in forma pauperis
- in foro
- in foro con
- in foro conscientiae
- in front
- in front of
- in front of someone's eyes
- in full
- in full bloom
- in full career
- in full color
- in full command of
- in full cry
- in full flood
- in full flow
- in full flower
- in full pursuit
- in full sail
- in full swing
- in full uniform
- in fun
- in future
- in futuro
- in gear