bou·stro·phe·don  (bōō'strə-fēd'n, -fē'dŏn')  n. An ancient method of writing in which the lines are inscribed alternately from right to left and from left to right. [From Greek boustrophēdon, turning like an ox while plowing : bous, ox; see gwou- in Indo-European roots + strophē, a turning (from strephein, to turn; see streb(h)- in Indo-European roots).] bou·stroph'e·don'ic (-strŏf'ĭ-dŏn'ĭk) adj. |
boustrophedonic hardware
(From the Greek "boustrophe-don": turning like oxen in plowing; from "bous": ox, cow; "strephein": to turn) An ancient method of writing using alternate left-to-right and right-to-left lines. It used for an optimisation performed by some computer typesetting software and moving-head printers to reduce physical movement of the print head. The adverbial form "boustrophedonically" is also found.
(1994-11-29)