Cyanosis
/ˌsaɪəˈnoʊsɪs/noun
A bluish discoloration of the skin, usually caused by low oxygen in the blood.
Did you know?Cyanosis is built from Greek kyanos, a word for dark blue or dark-colored hues that also gave English the color term cyan.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
kyanos (κύανος)
“Dark blue, deep blue, or blue-black color”
Late Greek
Greek
kyanōsis (κυάνωσις)
“A becoming blue or dark-blue discoloration”
18th Century
French/Medical Latin
cyanose
“Medical term for bluish skin discoloration”
19th Century
English
cyanosis
“Clinical term for a bluish bodily discoloration caused by lack of oxygen”
Modern English
English
cyanosis
“Bluish discoloration of the skin, especially from poor oxygenation”
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