Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Griphus

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

GRI'PHUS (γρῖφος and γρῖπος). Properly a Greek word, denoting one of the various kinds of fishing-nets employed in Greece (Oppian. Hal. iii. 81.); but of what precise nature is not ascertained. The Romans used the same term to designate an engine of war (Not. Tires. p. 126.), the characteristic properties of which are equally unknown. From some analogy with these objects the same word was used in a metaphorical sense to signify any thing doubtful or obscure, such as a riddle or enigma. Aristoph. Vesp. 20. Aul. Gell. i. 2. 2.