Swiftness (redirected from fastness)

Swiftness

Acestes

shoots an arrow with such force that it catches fire from friction with the air. [Rom. Lit.: Aeneid V, 525]

Al Borak

horse who carried Muhammad from Mecca to Jerusalem overnight. [Muslim Tradition: Walsh Classical, 13–14]

Argo

swift, magic ship of the Argonauts. [Gk. Myth.: Avery, 145]

Atalanta

heroine; fleet of foot; defeated by trickery. [Gk. Myth.: Walsh Classical, 36–37; Br. Lit.: Atalanta]

Bayard

swiftest horse in the world. [Medieval and Renaissance Legend: Brewer Dictionary, 86]

Camilla

Volscian queen; could run over cornfield without bending blades. [Rom. Lit.: Aeneid]

cheetah

fastest four-footed animal alive; can reach 60 mph. [Zoology: Misc.]

Cutty Sark

clipper ship, built in 1869, broke speed records in the tea trade. [Br. Hist.: EB, (1963) V, 830]

Hermes

(Rom. Mercury) messenger god; ran on the wings of the wind. [Gk. Myth.: Zimmerman, 124]

Jehu

Israelite king noted for his rapid chariot driving. [O.T.: II Kings 9]

Laelaps

hound so swift, it always overtook its quarry. [Gk. Myth.: Howe, 149]

Pacolet’s horse

enchanted steed of unparalleled quickness. [Fr. Lit.: Valentine and Orson; LLEI, 1: 304]

Pheidippides

(fl. 490 B.C.) ran 26 miles to Athens to announce Greek victory over Persians at Marathon. [Gk. Legend: Zimmerman, 159]

Road Runner

foxy bird who continually zooms out of the coyote’s reach. [TV: “The Road Runner Show” in Terrace, 247]

Superman

superhero; faster than a speeding bullet. [Comics: Horn, 642; TV: “Adventures of Superman” in Terrace, I, 37–38]

winged petasus

Mercury’s cap; symbolic of speed. [Gk. and Rom. Myth.: 145]