Lexical Definition

‎ψῆφος‎ psēphos (psay'-fos) stone ^G:N-F
from the same as ‎ψηλαφάω‎

stone, voice.

• a pebble (as worn smooth by handling), i.e. (by implication, of use as a counter or ballot) a verdict (of acquittal) or ticket (of admission)
• a vote

Abbott-Smith

ψῆφος, -ου, ἡ (< ψάω, to rub) [in LXX: Ex 4:25 (צֹר), La 3:16 (חָצָץ), Ec 7:26 (25) (חֶשְׁבּוֺך), IV Ki 12:4 (5)* A, Si 18:10, IV Mac 15:26 * ;]
1. a small smooth stone, a pebble: ψ. λευκή (for suggestions as to the meaning, v. Swete, in l.), Re 2:17.
2. From the use of pebbles in voting, a vote: Ac 26:10.†

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

ψῆφος,

Doric dialect ψᾶφος, Aeolic dialect ψᾶφαξ, ἡ, genitive plural ψηφάων [Refs 4th c.AD+]: (ψάω):—a small round worn stone, pebble, ψᾶφος ἑλισσομένα [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ψήφῳ μούνῃ διατετρανέεις, opposed to μόγις ἂν λίθῳ παίσας διαρρήξειας, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ψ. ἄμμου a grain of sand, [LXX]

__2 precious stone, gem, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; especially worn in a ring, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__II accusative to the various uses made of such pebbles:
__II.1 pebble used for reckoning, counter, λογίζεσθαι ψήφοις calculate or reckon by abacus, cipher, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: hence to reckon exactly or accurately, opposed to ἀπὸ χειρὸς λ., [ψῆφος">Refs 5th c.BC+] itself for a cipher, number, πὸτ ἄρτιον (i.e. ἀριθμὸν) ποτθέμειν.. ψᾶφον [Refs 5th c.BC+]: plural, accounts, καθαραὶ ψ., where there is an exact balance, [Refs 4th c.BC+]calculators, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; δακτυλικὴ ψ. reckoning on the fingers, [Refs 6th c.AD+]; of astrological calculations, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__II.1.b in Magic, κατέχων τὴν ψ. (i. e. the object on which the number is written) λέγε.. [Refs]
__II.2 pebble used for a draughts- or chess-man, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.2.b pebble used by jugglers, ψηφάων παῖκται [Refs 4th c.AD+]
__II.3 pebble used in divination, ἡ διὰ ψήφων μαντική [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__II.4 cube used in mosaic pavements, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__II.5 pebble used in voting, ψήφῳ ψηφίζεσθαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]: hence, the vote itself, ψῆφον φέρειν give one's vote, ἐν καρδίᾳ ψ. φέροντες [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ψῆφον τίθεσθαι, ={ψηφίζεσθαι}, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; with infinitive, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ψήφῳ διαιρεῖν to determine by vote, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ψήφῳ κρίνειν, [Refs 5th c.BC+] a vote is taken, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οἷς ἂν πλείστη γένηται ψ. a majority of votes, [Refs 5th c.BC+] to put the vote or question, of the president, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; διένεμον (variants διενέμοντο, ἔφερον) τὰς ψ. were casting their votes, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὑπὸ ψήφου μιᾶς with one accord, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ψ. φανερά open voting, ψ. φανερὰν διενεγκεῖν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; opposed to ψ. ἀφανής voting by ballot, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__II.5.b that which is carried by vote, a vote, ψ. καταγνώσεως a vote of condemnation, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ψῆφος αὐτῷ ἐπῆκτο περὶ φυγῆς a vote of banishment was moved for against him, [Refs 5th c.BC+] —hence,
__II.5.c any resolve or decree, ψ. τυράννων [Refs 5th c.BC+]; λιθίνα ψᾶφος a decree written on stone, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; διδοῖ ψᾶφον περ᾽ αὐτᾶς [the oak] gives judgement of itself, [Refs]; ψ. φλεγυρὰ βροτῶν, i. e. public opinion, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τίν᾽ ἂν ψῆφον θεῖ; what judgment.. ? [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.5.d Ἀθηνᾶς ψ., calculus Minervae, proverbial phrase to express acquittal, when the votes were even, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__II.5.e ψ. is sometimes omitted, κἂν ἴσαι γένωνται [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.5.f Διὸς ψῆφος (ψῆφοι [Refs 5th c.AD+] of the scene of contest betw. Athena and Poseidon, [Refs]
__II.5.g Κόννου ψ., negligible quantity, cipher, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.6 place of voting, tribunal, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.7 metaphorically, influence, πόλις μεγάλην ψ. ἔχουσα [Refs 4th c.AD+]