Cautery
/ˈkɔː.tə.ri/noun
A medical instrument or process used to burn tissue to stop bleeding or destroy tissue.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Greek *kaustēr*, tied to the same root that gave us “caustic,” so its history is literally about burning as power.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kaue-
“to burn, heat”
Ancient Greek
GR
kaustḗr
“a burning iron or branding tool”
Late Latin
LL
cauterium
“a cauterizing iron; an instrument for burning tissue”
Old French
OF
cautere
“a cautery, burning instrument”
Middle English
EN
cauterie
“the act or instrument of burning flesh to stop bleeding”
Modern English
EN
cautery
“the use of heat or a heated instrument to burn tissue for medical treatment”