n. (ĭk"thŬs)

[Gr. 'ichqy`s.]
In early Christian and ecclesiastical art, an emblematic fish, or the Greek word for fish, which combined the initials of the Greek words Ihsoy^s, Christo`s, Qeoy^ Gio`s Swth`r, Jesus, Christ, Son of God, Savior.

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(also ichthys) a representation of a fish used in ancient times as a pagan fertility talisman or amulet, or as a Christian symbol for the Greek word ichthys interpreted as an acrostic; in modern usage you often see the symbol on the back of cars