ἀστράγᾰλος [ρᾰ], ὁ,
(see. ὀστέον) one of the vertebrae, especially of the neck, [[ 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 14.466, 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 11.65, “Anthologia Graeca” 7.632 (1st c.BC-1st c.AD: Diodorus Epigrammaticus); votive object, “IG” 5 (2).125 (Tegea, 2nd c.AD). ] Refs 8th c.BC+]
__II ball of the ankle joint (not to be confused with σφυρόν, [[ 2nd c.AD: Rufus Medicus “περὶ ὀνομασίας” 124), 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 3.129; in horses, 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “de Equitandi ratione” 1.15 ] Refs 5th c.BC+]; of various animals, [[ 5th c.BC: Hippocrates Medicus “περὶ τῶν ἐντὸς παθῶν” 20, 30. ] Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.2 οἱ μὲν πόδες ἀστράγαλοί τευ, as a compliment, i.e. well-turned, [[ 3rd c.BC: Theocritus Poeta Bucolicus 10.36. ] Refs 3rd c.BC+]
__III wrist, [[ LXX.Dan.5.5, 24. ] LXX]
__IV plural, ἀστράγαλοι knucklebones used as dice or a game played with dice, ἀμφ᾽ ἀστραγάλοισι χολωθείς[[ 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 23.88, compare 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 1.94, Menecr.Comedy texts 1D.; ἀ. διάσειστοι 4th c.BC: Aeschines Orator 1.59, compare 4th-3rd c.BC: Menander Comicus 423] Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἀ. μεμολιβδωμένοι loaded dice, [[ 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Problemata” 913a36, compare 12th c.AD: Eustathius Episcopus Thessalonicensis 1397.34] Refs 4th c.BC+]; later, dice proper, ἀντ᾽ ἀστραγάλων κονδύλοισι παίζετε[[ 5th c.BC: Pherecrates Comicus 43. ] Refs 5th c.BC+]