Castration
/kæsˈtreɪʃən/noun
The removal or disabling of the testes or ovaries, typically resulting in infertility and major hormonal changes.
Did you know?Castrati—boys castrated before puberty—were prized in European opera because the procedure preserved a high singing voice, despite its severe lifelong consequences.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
castrāre
“To castrate or deprive of the reproductive organs; the deeper origin of the verb is uncertain.”
Late Latin
Latin
castrātiō
“Castration or the act of castrating.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
castratio
“Castration, used in medical, legal, and ecclesiastical writing.”
14th Century
Old French
castration
“Castration; the term entered French from Latin.”
16th Century
English
castration
“The act of castrating, recorded in English in medical and general usage.”
Modern English
English
castration
“Removal or disabling of the testes or ovaries, whether surgically, chemically, or metaphorically.”