in grammar, "the arrangement of repeated, parallel, or contrasted words or phrases in pairs with inversion of word order," 1850, Latinized from Greek khiasmos "a placing crosswise, diagonal arrangement" (see chi). As in "Adam, first of men, To first of women, Eve." ["Paradise Lost"]
chiasma n.
1832, in anatomy, "a crossing, an intersection," medical Latin, from Latinized form of Greek khiasma "two things placed crosswise," which is related to khiasmos (see chi, and compare chiasmus). In cytology from 1911. Related: Chiasmal.