Goiter
/ˈɡɔɪ.tər/noun
An abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland in the neck.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Latin for a throat swelling, and in medieval medicine it was often discussed alongside humors, cold airs, and other invisible forces believed to shape the body.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʷerh₂-
“to swallow, devour”
Latin
Latin
guttur
“throat, gullet”
Late Latin
Latin
gutturium
“throat swelling; goiter”
Old French
Old French
goitre
“a swelling in the neck”
Middle English
English
goiter / goitre
“a swelling of the throat or neck”
Modern English
English
goiter
“an enlargement of the thyroid gland”