scytale
noun
scyt·a·le
ˈsitᵊl(ˌ)ē
plural -s
1
: a method of cipher writing used especially by the Spartans in which a narrow strip of parchment was wound on a rod and the message written across the adjoining edges
2
a
: a message written in the scytale cipher
b
: a parchment bearing such a message
Word History
Etymology
Latin scytale, scytala, scutula, from Greek skytalē staff, cylinder, message