ouroboros

Etymology

From Ancient Greek οὐροβόρος (ourobóros, “tail-devouring”), a compound of οὐρά (ourá, “tail”) + -βόρος (-bóros, “-devouring”, “-swallowing”), which is derived from the verb βιβρώσκω (bibrṓskō, “to eat up”).

Pronunciation

• enPR: ôr-rŏb'-ôr-rŭs

Noun

ouroboros (plural ouroboroi or ouroboroses)

1. (mythology) A serpent, dragon or worm that eats its own tail, a representation of the continuous cycle of life and death.
2. A picture or symbol representing this.

See also

• Wikipedia article on ouroboros
• autocannibalism