Sphinx

Webster's Condensed Dictionary- A Condensed Dictionary of the English Language · 1909 · p. 575

sfinks, n. (Myth.) A monster usually repre- sun, cube, full moon, fot)t cow, oil SPIN sented as having the winged body of a lion, and the face and breast of a woman proposed riddles and put to death all who were unable to 6olve them. [L. and Gr., the strangler, Gr. sphingein, to throttle, bind, fix, L. fingere = E. to fix.]