Cancellous
/ˈkænsələs/noun
Having a spongy, lattice-like structure, especially in bone.
Did you know?Cancellous ultimately traces back to Latin *cancelli*, meaning “lattice” or “grating,” the same root behind *cancel*—originally to cross out text with lattice-like lines.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
cancelli
“lattice; grating; crossbars”
Late Latin
Latin
cancellosus
“full of latticework; gridded”
Medieval Latin
Latin
cancellosus
“spongy or porous, especially in bone”
17th–18th Century
English
cancellous
“spongy, lattice-like, especially in anatomy”