σκέλος, εος, τό,
leg from the hip downwards, only once in [[ 8th c.BC: Homerus Epicus, πρυμνὸν σκέλος] Refs 8th c.BC+] the ham or buttock, [[ 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 16.314; κάμηλος ἐν τοῖσι ὀπισθίοισι σ. ἔχει τέσσερας μηροὺς καὶ γούνατα τέσσερα 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 3.103, compare 7.61, 88 ] Refs 8th c.BC+]; τὰ σκέλη τε καὶ τὰ ἰσχία πρὸς τὴν γῆν ἐρείσας [[ 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Phaedrus” 254e, compare 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Historia Animalium” 494a4 ] Refs 5th c.BC+]; of dancers, τὸ σ. ῥίψαντες, αἴρειν, [[ 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Pax” 332, “Ec.” 265; σ. οὐράνιον ἐκλακτίζων [prev. author] “V.” 1492, compare 1526 ] Refs 5th c.BC+]; οὐρανῷ σκέλη προφαίνων, of one thrown head foremost, [[ 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Electra” 753 ] Refs 5th c.BC+]; βαδιοῦνται ἐπὶ δυοῖν σκελοῖν, ἐφ᾽ ἑνὸς πορεύσονται σκέλους, [[ 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Symposium” 190d ] Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὁ δεινός, ὁ ταλαύρινος, ὁ κατὰ τοῖν σκελοῖν he with the legs, the strider, [[ 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Pax” 241 (but explained by Scholia ἀπὸ τῶν διὰ δειλίαν ἀποτιλώντων,compare 4th-3rd c.BC: Menander Comicus “Περινθία” 18); dual, τὼ σκέλει 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Pax” 325, +others, compare 2nd c.AD: Lucianus Sophista “Tim.” 26, “Anach.” 1 ] Refs 5th c.BC+]; σκέλε (i.e. probably σκέλει) δύο [[ “IG” 22.1388.24, compare 1502.5; but σκέλη (_plural_) δύο in _Attic dialect_ Inscrr. from 4th c.BC, [prev. work]1425.15, compare 57, etc.; and so τὰ σ. 2nd c.AD: Lucianus Sophista “Ind.” 9 ] Refs 4th c.BC+]: singular, leg of sacrificial victim, [[ “IG” 12.190.32, +others,42(1).40.10 (Epid., 5th c.BC). ] Refs 5th c.BC+]
__2 as a military phrase, ἐπὶ σκέλος πάλιν χωρεῖν, ἀνάγειν, retreat with the face towards the enemy, retire leisurely, [[ 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Phoenissae” 1400, 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Aves” 383; compare πούς 1.6b. ] Refs 5th c.BC+]