Circumcision
/ˌsɜːr.kəmˈsɪʒ.ən/noun
The surgical removal of all or part of the foreskin from the penis, or of the clitoral hood or labia in some cultures.
Did you know?It comes from Latin circumcisio, a noun built from circumcidere, and the root circum- (“around”) is the same ancient circle-root behind words like circle and circus.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sker-
“to cut”
Latin
Latin
circum- + caedere
“around + to cut; to cut around”
Late Latin
Latin
circumcisio
“a cutting around; circumcision”
Old French
Old French
circoncision
“circumcision”
Middle English
English
circumcisioun
“circumcision”
Modern English
English
circumcision
“the surgical removal of the foreskin or other tissue”
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