tachos

Tachos is a term that appears in several distinct domains, and there is no single, universally recognized meaning. In linguistics and science, tachos is most often encountered as the stem of the Greek-derived root tachy-, from Greek tachys meaning swift or fast. The noun form tachos is attested in some ancient Greek texts, but modern usage favors the compound form built from the root.

In science and technology, the prefix tachy- denotes speed. Examples include tachometer, a device that measures rotational speed; tachograph, a charting instrument used on motor vehicles to record driving time and speed; and tachography, the study or recording of speed. The related medical term tachycardia uses the same root to indicate an abnormally fast heart rate.

Historical references: the name Tachos appears in Greco-Egyptian historiography as an epithet or name associated with certain rulers in ancient Egypt. Details vary by source, and historians distinguish between literary tradition and titulature inscribed on monuments. Because of sparse or conflicting evidence, the identity and date of such figures remain uncertain in some cases.

Other uses: tachos may appear in brand names, geographical toponyms, or fictional works. In modern contexts, the term is seldom used alone outside specialized or historical discussions; it most often exists as part of longer words built from the tachy- root.

See also: tachy-; tachometer; tachograph.