I.a line of battle, battle-array, Il.; mostly in pl. the ranks, id=Il., Hes.
2.the phalanx, i. e. the heavy infantry (ὁπλῖται) in battle-order, Xen., etc.: the formation of the phalanx differed; the Spartan line at Tegea was eight deep, Thuc.: the Theban at Delium twenty-five, id=Thuc.; the phalanx was brought to perfection by Philip of Macedon.
b.for the main body, centre, as opp. to the wings (κέρατα), Xen.
c.a camp, id=Xen.
II.a round piece of wood, a trunk, log, Hdt.
III.a venomous spider (cf. φαλάγγιον), Ar.
deriv. uncertain
