1. curved metal tools used in ancient Greece and Rome to scrape oil, sweat, and dirt from the skin after bathing or exercise
Usage: historical; archaeology

Examples

• The museum displayed bronze strigils found at the Roman bathhouse excavation.
• Athletes in ancient Greece used strigils to clean themselves after competing.
• The archaeologist identified several well-preserved strigils among the burial goods.
• Roman bathers would apply oil to their skin before scraping it off with strigils.
• The strigils were typically made of bronze or iron with curved blades.
• Ancient Roman slaves often assisted their masters by using strigils during bathing rituals.