What we call a ξυάλη .[1] Xenophon in Anabasis of Cyrus [writes]: "they had linen corslets as far as the abdomen, but, in place of the flaps, thick twisted cords. They also had [both greaves and] helmets, and a dagger about the belt the size of a Laconian ξυήλη ".[2] What Attic [writers call] a cheese-grater, κνῆστις , Laconians call a ξυήλη only. "And he grated the goat-cheese with a bronze κνῆστις ."[3] So while Attic [writers] use a verb, like "both to grate up and to eat",[4] Laconians [have] the noun ξυήλη . And as Xenophon says in the 4th [book] of Anabasis: that Dracontius fled from Sparta while still a boy, after killing a boy with a Laconian ξυήλη .[5] Hence the Dorians also say ξύειν for κνεῖν ,[6] and so does Sophron: "if someone should scrape back the scraper", and again "the chorus-leader is scraped".[7]