Otoscope
/ˈoʊ.təˌskoʊp/noun
An instrument used to examine the ear canal and eardrum.
Did you know?Otoscope combines Greek ōt-, “ear,” with skopein, “to look at or examine,” the same ancient idea behind microscope and telescope.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₂ous-
“To hear; the ancient root associated with the ear”
Ancient Greek
Greek
οὖς (ous)
“Ear”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ὠτός (ōtos)
“Of the ear; the genitive form that produced the combining form ōt-”
Ancient Greek
Greek
σκοπεῖν (skopein)
“To look at, examine, or inspect”
19th Century
New Latin
otoscopium
“An instrument for examining the ear”
Modern English
English
otoscope
“An instrument for examining the ear canal and eardrum”