Hydrocele
/ˈhaɪdrəˌsiːl/noun
A swelling caused by fluid buildup, especially around a testicle.
Did you know?Hydrocele comes from Greek medical language, where hydro- meant “water” and kēlē meant “tumor, swelling, or hernia,” so the word was born as a blunt anatomical description rather than a poetic one.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ὕδωρ (hydōr)
“water”
Ancient Greek
Greek
κήλη (kēlē)
“swelling, tumor, hernia”
Late Latin
Latin
hydrocele
“a watery swelling or hernia”
16th Century
English
hydrocele
“a fluid-filled swelling, especially in the scrotum”
Modern English
English
hydrocele
“a swelling caused by fluid buildup, especially around a testicle”