Attic salt

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]
Démosthène s'exerçant à la parole (Demosthenes Practising Oratory, 1870) by Jean-Jules-Antoine Lecomte du Nouÿ, from a private collection. Demosthenes (384 – 12 October 322 B.C.E.), a Greek statesman and orator of ancient Athens, was known for his wit.

Attic + salt; a calque of Latin sāl Atticus or sāl Atticum. In classical times “salt” was a frequent metaphor for “wit”.

Pronunciation

[edit]

Noun

[edit]

Attic salt (uncountable)

  1. (idiomatic) Pointed and delicate wit.

Translations

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]