Cementum
/sɪˈmɛn.təm/noun
The hard tissue covering the roots of teeth, anchoring them in the jaw.
Did you know?Cementum was named by analogy with masonry cement because it “binds” the tooth root to the jaw through the periodontal ligament.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Lat
caementum
“broken stone or chip used in building; rough masonry material”
Late Latin
Lat
cementum
“cement or mortar”
19th Century
English
cementum
“the bone-like layer covering a tooth root”
Modern English
English
cementum
“the calcified tissue covering the roots of teeth”
Explore more surprising origins