trepanation

See also: trépanation

English

WOTD – 24 November 2011
Iron Age skull with hole produced by trepanation.

Etymology

From New Latin trepanatio, formed from French trépan (a drill), itself from Latin trepanum, ultimately from Ancient Greek τρύπανον (trúpanon, an auger, a drill).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /tɹɛpəˈneɪʃən/
    • (file)

Noun

trepanation (countable and uncountable, plural trepanations)

  1. The practice of drilling a hole in the skull as a physical, mental, or spiritual treatment.
    • 2022, Paul McAuley, Beyond the Burn Line, Gollancz, page 75:
      Creed had suffered [] a swelling to the brain that the tribe’s chief physic treated with trepanation.

Synonyms

Translations

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