sesquipedal, a. and n.
(səsˈkwɪpɪdəl), ˈsɛskwɪpɛdəl)
[ad. L. sesquipedāl-is, f. sesqui- + ped-, pēs foot: cf. pedal.]
A. adj. = sesquipedalian.
| 1611 R. Badley in Coryat's Crudities k 2 b, The sesquipedale belly of thy Tome. 1624 Burton Anat. Mel. iii. iv. ii. vi, Fustian, big, sesquipedal words. 1802 Syd. Smith Wks. (1869) 4 Dr. Parr seems to think that eloquence consists..in a studious arrangement of sonorous, exotic, and sesquipedal words. 1829 Blackw. Mag. XXVI. 917 Admirable dissertations on old chamber-pots are poured into ears sesquipedal. 1891 M. M. Dowie Girl in Karp. ix, Some lovely sesquipedal adverb. |
B. n. A thing a foot and a half in length: cf. next B. 1. (In quot. used jocularly.)
| 1713 Guardian No. 108 ¶4, I am but a Sesquipedal, having only six Feet and a half of Stature. |