1. A metrical line, especially in classical poetry, that ends with a spondee (two long syllables) instead of the expected iamb (short-long), creating a limping or halting effect.
Usage: literary; prosody; also called a scazon

Examples

• The choliamb was favored by Greek comic poets for its deliberately awkward rhythm.
• In classical prosody, a choliamb disrupts the expected metrical pattern by ending with a heavy stress.
• Hipponax made frequent use of the choliamb in his iambic verse.
• The choliamb's limping quality made it suitable for satirical and mocking poetry.
• Students of ancient Greek meter must learn to identify a choliamb by its distinctive final spondee.