Triton

views updated Jun 11 2018

Triton in Greek mythology, a minor sea god usually represented as a man with a fish's tail and carrying a trident and shell-trumpet.
Triton of the minnows the type of something large or great contrasted with something small and insignificant, often with reference to Shakespeare's Coriolanus (1608).

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable ELIZABETH KNOWLES

Triton

views updated May 08 2018

Triton (Neptune I) A satellite of Neptune, with a diameter of 2705.2km; mass 214.7 × 10²⁰kg; mean density 2054kg/m³; visual albedo 0.7. Its orbit is retrograde.

A Dictionary of Earth Sciences AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY

Amphitrite

views updated May 23 2018

Amphitrite in Greek mythology, a sea goddess, wife of Poseidon and mother of Triton.

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable ELIZABETH KNOWLES

Triton

views updated May 11 2018

Triton In Greek mythology, a sea god, son of Poseidon and Amphitrite. He was half man and half fish, with a scaled body, sharp teeth and claws, and a forked fish tail. He had power over the waves and possessed the gift of prophecy.

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