Gynaecomastia
/ˌɡaɪ.nɪ.kəʊˈmæsti.ə/noun
Benign enlargement of male breast tissue, usually caused by hormonal imbalance or certain medications.
Did you know?Gynaecomastia combines Greek gynē, “woman,” with mastos, “breast”—the same breast-root that appears in the prehistoric animal name mastodon.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʷenh₂
“Woman”
Ancient Greek
Greek
gynē (γυνή)
“Woman or wife”
Ancient Greek
Greek
mastos (μαστός)
“Breast or breast-shaped object”
19th Century
Medical Latin
gynaecomastia
“Abnormal enlargement of the male breast”
19th Century–Present
English
gynaecomastia
“Male breast-tissue enlargement; the British spelling of gynecomastia”
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