Friday, June 17, 2005

Words: Latin bone names

It occurred to me that clavicle (collarbone) is actually Latin for keybone, so I decided to provide vernacular translations of other major bones of the skeleton (source is Merriam-Webster):

Skeleton - skeletos - boneshell (New Latin, from Greek, neuter of skeletos dried up; akin to Greek skellein to dry up, sklEros hard and perhaps to Old English sceald shallow)
Collarbone - clavicle - keybone (French clavicule, from New Latin clavicula, from Latin, diminutive of Latin clavis; akin to Greek kleid-, kleis key, kleiein to close)
Kneecap - patella - dishbone (Latin, from diminutive of patina shallow dish) or skimbone (patina 1 a : a usually green film formed naturally on copper and bronze by long exposure or artificially (as by acids) and often valued aesthetically for its color b : a surface appearance of something grown beautiful especially with age or use 2 : an appearance or aura that is derived from association, habit, or established character 3 : a superficial covering or exterior)
Elbow - (h)ellbent or (h)ellbone (Middle English elbowe, from Old English elboga, from el- (akin to eln ell) + Old English boga bow)
Skull - cranium -headbone (Medieval Latin, from Greek kranion; akin to Greek kara head, more at cerebrum)
Foot - tarsus - flatbone (New Latin, from Greek tarsos wickerwork mat, flat of the foot, ankle, edge of the eyelid; akin to Greek tersesthai to become dry -- more at thirst)
Breastbone - sternum - broadbone (New Latin, from Greek sternon chest, breastbone; akin to Old High German stirna forehead, Latin sternere to spread out -- more at strew)
Backbone or spine - spina - thornbone or stembone (Middle English, thorn, spinal column, from Latin spina; perhaps akin to Latin spica ear of grain)

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