Argo

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A specialized vocabulary or set of expressions used by members of a particular group to communicate privately ; a ship in Greek mythology used by Jason and the Argonauts on their quest
2. A coded or private way of speaking among a specific community to keep meaning hidden from outsiders ; a famous ancient vessel involved in mythological adventures
3. A particular set of jargon characteristic of a group for secret communication ; a legendary craft from Greek tales known for its heroic voyage

Etymology: The name of the mythical ship Argo, which carried Jason and the Argonauts in search of the Golden Fleece, reached English as a slang term for a secret society. The ship's name comes from the Ancient Greek "Argṓ," which was later borrowed into Latin as "Argō." Its origin is often connected to the Greek adjective "argos," meaning "swift," though that link is uncertain. The slang sense has a playful, insider quality. A group that gathers in private and shares a special vocabulary takes a name from a famous voyage of companions bound together by a common quest, and the mythological allusion signals that membership is a kind of adventure. Using a classical ship name for a clique is a way of marking the group as learned and set apart from outsiders.

Synonyms: ship, vessel, boat