Dacryocyst
/ˌdæk.riˈɑː.sɪst/noun
The tear sac, a small structure that collects tears before they drain into the nasal cavity.
Did you know?Dacryocyst combines Greek words for “tear” and “bladder” or “sac,” reflecting an ancient tendency to describe body parts through vivid containers and fluids.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dakru-
“Tear; a reconstructed ancient root referring to the fluid shed from the eyes.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
δάκρυον (dákryon)
“Tear or teardrop.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
κύστις (kýstis)
“Bladder, pouch, or sac.”
19th Century
Medical Latin
dacryocystis / dacryocyst-
“Medical formation referring to the tear sac and its inflammation or related conditions.”
Modern English
English
dacryocyst
“The tear sac, also called the lacrimal sac.”
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