Both Uses of
phalanx
in
The Fellowship of the Ring
- There were fountains of butterflies that flew glittering into the trees; there were pillars of coloured fires that rose and turned into eagles, or sailing ships, or a phalanx of flying swans; there was a red thunderstorm and a shower of yellow rain; there was a forest of silver spears that sprang suddenly into the air with a yell like an embattled army, and came down again into the Water with a hiss like a hundred hot snakes.†
Chpt 1.1
- Once or twice the travellers heard the rush and whine of swan-wings, and looking up they saw a great phalanx streaming along the sky.†
Chpt 2.9 *
Definitions:
-
(1)
(phalanx as in: a phalanx of riot police) a group standing and moving together -- especially an ancient Greek military formation
-
(2)
(phalanx in medicine) medicine: any of the bones of the fingers or toes