Obelus \Ob"e*lus\ ([o^]b"[e^]*l[u^]s), n.; pl. {Obeli} ([o^]b"[e^]*l[imac]). [L., fr. Gr. 'obelo`s, prop., a spit.] (Print.) A mark [thus ---, or /]; -- so called as resembling a needle. In old MSS. or editions of the classics, it marks suspected passages or readings. [1913 Webster]