1. dry land, land , ἐπὶ χέρσου, opposite to ἐν πόντῳ, (Odyssey by Homer); κύματα κυλινδόμενα προτὶ χέρσον (Odyssey by Homer); κῦμα χέρσῳ ῥηγνύμενον (Iliad by Homer); χέρσῳ on or by land , (Aeschulus Tragicus) 2. as adjective, χέρσος, ον, dry, firm , of land, (Herdotus Historicus); ἐν κονίᾳ χέρσῳ, opposite to πόντῳ, (Pindar) 3. dry, hard, barren , (Herdotus Historicus); χ. λιμήν a harbour left dry , [ variant dates Anthology Palantina 4. metaphorically barren, without children , of women, (Sophocles Tragicus): with genitive barren of , πυρὰ χέρσος ἀγλαϊσμάτων (Euripides) Prob. from same Root as ξηρός. (ML)