Avulsion
/əˈvʌl.ʃən/noun
The forceful tearing away or separation of a body part, tissue, or object.
Did you know?The word comes from Latin verbs meaning “to pluck” or “tear away,” a root that also produced words connected with revulsion, convulsion, velvet, and tickling.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wel-
“To tear, pluck, or pull away”
Classical Latin
Latin
vellere
“To pluck, pull, or tear”
Classical Latin
Latin
avellere
“To tear away; to wrench off”
Late Latin
Latin
avulsio
“A tearing away or removal”
16th Century
English
avulsion
“A pulling or tearing away, especially in medical or physical contexts”
Modern English
English
avulsion
“The forcible separation of tissue, a body part, or land by sudden action”
Explore more surprising origins