Orifice
/ˈɔːr.ɪ.fɪs/noun
An opening or hole, especially in a body or object.
Did you know?Orifice comes from Latin ōrificium, built from ōs/ōr- (“mouth”) + facere (“to make”), so its oldest sense is basically “a made mouth.”
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
ōrificium
“an opening, especially a mouth-like opening”
Late Latin
Latin
ōrificium
“an aperture or opening”
Old French
Old French
orifice
“an opening, hole, or passage”
14th Century
English
orifice
“an opening or passage in a body or structure”
Modern English
English
orifice
“an opening, especially in a body or object”