Anus
/ˈeɪ.nəs/noun
The opening at the end of the digestive tract through which solid waste leaves the body.
Did you know?The term 'anus' comes from Latin, meaning 'ring', reflecting the circular shape of this bodily feature, often linked to concepts of closure and containment in ancient texts.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₁en-(us)
“to breathe or exhale, relating to bodily functions.”
Latin
Latin
anus
“ring or circle, denoting the shape of the opening.”
Old French
Old French
anus
“the same as Latin, preserving the shape connotation.”
Middle English
Middle English
anus
“inherited directly from Latin through Old French.”
Modern English
English
anus
“retained Latin meaning, referring specifically to the anatomical feature.”