Intubate
/ˈɪn.tuː.beɪt/noun
To insert a tube into a bodily passage, especially the trachea, to maintain an airway or assist breathing.
Did you know?“Intubate” is a relatively modern medical formation built from Latin-derived elements, reflecting how nineteenth-century medicine created precise technical vocabulary from classical roots.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
tūbus
“A pipe, tube, or hollow cylindrical object.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
intubare
“To put into a tube; a later medical formation based on Latin in- (“into”) and tūbus (“tube”).”
17th–18th Century
Latin
intubatio
“The act or process of inserting into a tube; used in developing medical terminology.”
19th Century
English
intubate
“To insert a tube into a bodily passage, especially the airway.”
Modern English
English
intubate
“To place an endotracheal or other tube to maintain an airway or deliver ventilation.”
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