Lopadotemachoselachogaleokranioleipsanodrimhypotrimmatosilphioparaomelitokatakechymenokichlepikossyphophattoperisteralektryonoptekephalliokigklopeleiolagoiosiraiobaphetraganopterygon

The form of the word quoted here is in fact the one listed in LSJ (1940) and quoted therein as having been amended by August Meineke;[2] in contrast to this, F.W. Hall and W.M. Geldart's 1907 edition of Aristophanis Comoediae (used in the Assemblywomen story) reads (differences in bold):
λοπαδο­τεμαχο­σελαχο­γαλεο­κρανιο­λειψανο­δριμ­υποτριμματο­σιλφιο­τυρο­μελιτο­κατακεχυμενο­κιχλεπικοσσυφο­φαττο­περιστερ­αλεκτρυον­οπτεκεφαλλιο­κιγκλο­πελειο­λαγῳο­σιραιο­βαφη­τραγανο­πτερυγών.[4]

The dish was a fricassée, with at least 16 sweet and sour ingredients, including the following:[3]

• fish slices
• fish of the elasmobranchii subclass (a shark or ray)
• rotted dogfish or small shark's head
• generally sharp-tasting dish of several ingredients grated and pounded together
• silphion "laserwort", apparently a kind of giant fennel
• a kind of crab, shrimp, or crayfish
• honey poured down
• wrasse (or thrush)
• a kind of sea fish or blackbird as topping
• wood pigeon
• domestic pigeon
• rooster
• roasted head of dabchick
• hare, which could be a kind of bird or a kind of sea hare
• new wine boiled down
• wing and/or fin

The term is used in the ultimate chorus of the play when Blepyrus (and the audience) are summoned to the first feast laid on by the new system.

[1167] And you others, let your light steps too keep time.
[1168] Very soon we'll be eating
[1170] lepado­temacho­selacho­galeo­kranio­leipsano­drim­ypo­trimmato­silphio­karabo­melito­katakechy­meno­kichl­epi­kossypho­phatto­perister­alektryon­opte­kephalio­kigklo­peleio­lagoio­siraio­baphe­tragano­pterygon. [sic]
[1175] Come, quickly, seize hold of a plate, snatch up a cup, and let's run to secure a place at table. The rest will have their jaws at work by this time.

— translation ed. Eugene O'Neill, 1938[1]

In English prose translation by Leo Strauss (1966), this Greek word is rendered as "oysters-saltfish-skate-sharks'-heads-left-over-vinegar-dressing-laserpitium-leek-with-honey-sauce-thrush-blackbird-pigeon-dove-roast-cock's-brains-wagtail-cushat-hare-stewed-in-new-wine-gristle-of-veal-pullet's-wings".[5]

English verse translation by Benjamin Bickley Rogers (1902) follows the original meter and the original way of composition:

Plattero-filleto-mulleto-turboto-
-Cranio-morselo-pickleo-acido-
-Silphio-honeyo-pouredonthe-topothe-
-Ouzelo-throstleo-cushato-culvero-
-Cutleto-roastingo-marowo-dippero-
-Leveret-syrupu-gibleto-wings.[6]

Older English verse translation by Rev. Rowland Smith (1833) breaks the original word into several verses:

Limpets, oysters, salt fish,
And a skate too a dish,
Lampreys, with the remains
Of sharp sauce and birds' brains,
With honey so luscious,
Plump blackbirds and thrushes,
Cocks' combs and ring doves,
Which each epicure loves,
Also wood-pigeons blue,
With juicy snipes too,
And to close all, O rare!
The wings of jugged hare![7]

• Longest word in English