Mastoiditis
/ˌmæstɔɪˈdaɪtɪs/noun
Inflammation of the mastoid process of the temporal bone, usually caused by infection.
Did you know?Mastoiditis is built from Greek roots meaning “breast-like” plus the medical suffix for inflammation, because the mastoid bone behind your ear was named for its shape, not its function.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
mástos
“breast, mound, rounded swelling”
Ancient Greek
Greek
-oeidḗs
“form, shape; resembling”
19th Century
French/Medical Latin
mastoïde
“mastoid; breast-shaped”
19th Century
New Latin
mastoiditis
“inflammation of the mastoid region”
Modern English
English
mastoiditis
“inflammation of the mastoid process”