Cyph"o*nism (s?f`?-n?z'm or s?"f?-),
n. [Gr. ????, fr. ???? a
crooked piece of wood, a sort of pillory, fr. ??? bent,
stooping.] A punishment sometimes used by the ancients,
consisting in the besmearing of the criminal with honey, and
exposing him to insects. It is still in use among some Oriental
nations.