xys-

Shredded, sloughed intestinal mucosal tissue in the stool or defecation (excretory product evacuated from the bowels): Dr. Wilson sent samples of Hector's xysma, the membranous shreds that were found in the feces of his diarrhea, to the medical laboratory for analysis.

"Sloughed" refers to a layer or mass of dead tissue separated from surrounding living tissue, as in a wound, a sore, or an inflammation.

1. A long and open portico, for athletic exercises: The school had a xyst for wrestling, running, etc., for use in winter or in stormy weather.
2. In ancient Greek and Roman architecture, a covered portico; such as, a promenade: People walked under the xyst that provided shade during the hot days.
3. In an ancient Roman villa, a garden walk planted with trees: The gardeners took good care of the xyst that was planted with exotic flowers.

An ancient Greek officer in charge of gymnastic exercises: The xystarch was proud of his students and their physical skills.

A surgical instrument, or instruments, similar to a file, which is used to abrade (scrape) bone and other firm tissues of the body: During the operation, Dr. Henderson, the surgeon, used a xyster to trim the surface of Tim's broken bone in his left leg.

1. Dark brown or reddish-brown crab spiders often existing on weeds or trees: The spiders of the genus Xysticus do not build webs because they are ambush hunters and prefer to hunt near the ground.
2. Etymology: a name that comes from the ancient Greek root xyst-, "scraped, scraper".

A short pike used by Greek cavalry: A wooden pole, or xyston, which had a sharp metal point; such as, that at the end of a spear or a javelin.

A gymnasium at Elis where runners and pentathletes trained one month prior to the start of the ancient Olympic games: The xystos, or ancient sports center, was in Elis, which was a region and city of ancient Greece in the western Peloponnesus. The plain of Olympia, in the southern part of the area, was the site of the original Olympic Games.

An architectural term referring to an open space in a building or a shaded walk or an enclosed area in front of a building: The vineyard owner wanted his new home reflecting the ancient xystum that he remembered from his home in Italy.

A xystum can refer to a wall, a promenade (pedestrian walk area), an alley, or an open path.

The xystum may also refer to an atrium (open space in a building), ambulacrum (walk planted with trees), or parvis (enclosed area) in front of a basilica or a public building in Roman times.

1. A long and open portico (a porch or walkway with a roof supported by columns, often leading to the entrance of a building) for athletic exercises in Greek and Roman antiquity: The Xystus of Elis was a famous gymnasium consisting of a large enclosure surrounded by a wall.

The gymnasium was the largest xystus in ancient Greece because all of the athletes in the Olympic games were required to undergo a month of training there before the opening of the games.

Within the xystus, there were special places for runners which were separated from each other by trees.

2. Etymology: a reference to "a polished course" or "a race"; "to scrape, to scratch, to polish"; so called indirectly to the polished floor of the portico or ancient structure consisting of a roof and supported by columns with no walls.