Clitoris
/ˈklɪt.ər.ɪs/noun
A small erectile organ at the front of the vulva that is highly sensitive to stimulation.
Did you know?The exact origin is uncertain, but many scholars connect *clitoris* to Greek *kleíein* (“to shut”) or *kleit-* (“key”), which is why its history is tangled with the language of concealment and unlocking.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
kleitoris
“The vulva’s small erectile organ; the term appears in later Greek medical writing.”
Late Latin
Latin
clitoridis
“A learned anatomical term borrowed from Greek medical vocabulary.”
Old French
French
clitoris
“A scholarly borrowing used in medical and anatomical contexts.”
16th Century
English
clitoris
“A medical/anatomical term entered English from Latin and French learned usage.”
Modern English
English
clitoris
“The standard anatomical term for the organ.”