periplus

Meanings

1. An account of a voyage, particularly those of Hanno and Arrian, recording ports and coastal landmarks.
2. A voyage along a coast.
3. Synonym of circuit: the path or distance around a coast.
4. Synonym of circumnavigation: a voyage around an island or the world.

Etymology

From Latin periplūs (“account of a voyage”) and Ancient Greek περίπλους (períplous, “voyage, naval manouver, account of a voyage”), from περί (perí, “peri-: around”) + πλοῦς (ploûs, “voyage”), from πλεῖν (pleîn, “to swim”). Cf. French périple, Spanish periplo, & Italian periplo.