Phalanx

  1. Proper noun.  The brand name of a radar-controlled rapid fire 20mm Gatling-type machine gun, the '''Phalanx''' CIWS (pronounced ''see-wiz''), deployed on U.S. Navy ships as a last line of defense against antiship cruise missiles.
  2. Noun.  (context, plural '''phalanxes''') a large group of people, animals or things, compact or closely massed, or tightly knit and united in common purpose.
  3. Noun.  (skeleton, plural '''phalanges''') One of the bones of the finger or toe.
  4. Noun.  (historical, plural '''phalanxes''') An ancient Greek military unit that consisted of several ranks and files (lines) of soldiers in close array with joined shields and long spears.
  5. Noun.  (''historical sociology'') A Fourierite utopian community; a phalanstery.

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This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.