trephine
|tre/phine|
C2
/trɪˈfaɪn/
circular bone cutter
Etymology
Etymology Information
'trephine' originates from French, specifically the word 'tréphine,' which is derived from the Latin 'tres fines,' meaning 'three ends.'
Historical Evolution
'tréphine' transformed into the English word 'trephine' during the 17th century.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it referred to a tool with three ends, but over time it evolved into its current meaning of a surgical instrument for cutting circular sections of bone.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a surgical instrument with a cylindrical blade used to remove a circular section of bone, especially from the skull.
The surgeon used a trephine to access the patient's brain.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/28 17:46