Ligament
/ˈlɪɡ.ə.mənt/noun
A short band of tough, flexible tissue that connects bones or holds organs in place.
Did you know?In ancient medicine, ligaments were thought to have mystical properties, binding not just the body but also the spirit to its physical form.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*leǵ-
“to bind, to tie”
Latin
Latin
ligamentum
“that which binds; a bond or tie”
Old French
Old French
ligament
“a binding or tie, especially in anatomy”
Middle English
Middle English
ligament
“a term for anatomical binders or connectors”
Modern English
English
ligament
“a structure connecting bones or supporting organs”