1. Plural of priapus; statues or representations of Priapus, a Greco-Roman fertility god, typically depicted with exaggerated male genitalia.
Usage: classical; historical; often capitalized when referring to the deity or his representations
2. Plural of priapus; garden ornaments or grotesque figures in the style of Priapus.
Usage: archaic; literary

Examples

• The museum's collection included several ancient priapuses from Roman villas.
• Priapuses were common decorative elements in Greco-Roman gardens.
• The archaeologists discovered fragments of priapuses among the villa's ruins.
• Classical literature frequently referenced priapuses as symbols of fertility and abundance.