noun pl. trophies
- in ancient Greece and Rome, a memorial of victory erected on the battlefield or in some public place, orig. a display of captured arms or other spoils
- a representation of this on a medal
- an architectural ornament representing a group of weapons
- something taken from the enemy and kept as a memorial of victory, as captured arms
- a lion's skin, deer's head, etc. displayed as evidence of hunting prowess
- a prize, usually a silver cup, awarded in a sports contest or other competition
- anything serving as a reminder, as of a triumph
Origin:
MFr trophée < L trophaeum, altered < tropaeum, sign of victory < Gr tropaion, a token of an enemy's defeat < tropaios, of a rout, turning < tropē, a turning, defeat < trepein: see trope
adjective
regarded as symbolizing one's success, wealth, etc.: a trophy estate