Nodule
/ˈnɒdjuːl/noun
A small rounded lump or growth, especially one occurring in tissue, a plant, or a mineral.
Did you know?Nodule comes from Latin nodulus, a diminutive of nodus, “knot,” linking modern medical language to ancient imagery of things physically tied or knotted together.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ned-
“To bind or tie together”
Ancient Latin
Latin
nodus
“A knot, knotlike swelling, or complication”
Classical Latin
Latin
nodulus
“A small knot or little lump”
17th Century
New Latin
nŏdulus
“A small rounded body or knot, especially in scientific description”
18th Century
English
nodule
“A small knotlike lump or swelling”
Modern English
English
nodule
“A small rounded mass in anatomy, botany, geology, or medicine”