[L.; a. Gr. χάρυβδις.] A dangerous whirlpool on the coast of Sicily (now Calofaro), opposite the Italian rock Scylla. Used allusively of anything likely to cause shipwreck of life, etc., and esp. in combination with Scylla, of the danger of running into one evil or peril in seeking to avoid its opposite.
1597. Bacon, Coulers Good & Ev., Ess. (Arb.), 147. And contrarie the remedy of the one euill is the occasion and commencement of an other, as in Scilla and Charybdis.
1609. Man in Moone (1849), 22. The very sinke of sensuality and poole of putrifaction; a Sylla to citizens, and Caribdis to countrie-men.
1679. Plot, Staffordsh. (1686), 72. If we consider what mighty Charybdes there are in the World.
1682. Sir T. Browne, Chr. Mor. (1716), III. § 9. He who hath not early suffered this Skipwrack, and in his Younger Days escaped this Charybdis, may make a happy Voyage, and not come in with black Sails into the port.
1860. All Y. Round, 382. In avoiding the Scylla of the mud-bank we had all but stumbled upon the Charybdis of a dredging-machine.
