Diaphragm
/ˈdaɪ.ə.fræm/noun
A dome-shaped sheet of muscle that separates the chest and abdomen and plays a major role in breathing.
Did you know?The word comes from Greek diaphrágma, originally meaning a partition or barrier, and the same root helped form the modern idea of a “diagram” — something drawn to divide and map space.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
diáphragma
“a partition, barrier, or dividing wall”
Late Latin
Latin
diaphragma
“a partition or membrane, especially in anatomy”
Old French
French
diaphragme
“the anatomical diaphragm”
Middle English
English
diaphragme
“the muscle separating the chest and abdomen”
Modern English
English
diaphragm
“the muscle used in breathing; also a thin separating membrane or device”
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