saros

Meanings

1. A quantity of 3600, such as a period of 3600 years.
2. A period of 223 synodic months (approximately 18 years 11 days 8 hours), after which the relative positions of the earth, sun and moon recur, used to predict eclipses.

1. plural of Saro.

Etymology

From Ancient Greek σάρος (sáros), from Akkadian 𒊹 (šar₂ /⁠šār⁠/, “3600, total, many, a great quantity or measure”). The modern astronomical usage is attributed to Edmond Halley, who based it on the word σάρος, defined in the Suda as "a measure and a number among Chaldeans. For 120 saroi make 2222 years according to the Chaldeans' reckoning, if indeed the saros makes 222 lunar months, which are 18 years and 6 months."