Pessary
/ˈpɛs.ə.ri/noun
A device inserted into the vagina to support organs or deliver medication.
Did you know?Pessary comes from Greek medical vocabulary and was used in antiquity for vaginal treatments, showing how many modern “clinical” words began as intimate, practical terms in ancient healing traditions.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
GR
pessós
“A small round stone or pebble; later a medical plug or suppository-like object.”
Latin
LA
pessārium
“A medicinal vaginal suppository or plug.”
Old French
OF
pessaire
“A pessary; a medical device inserted into the body.”
Middle English
EN
pessary
“A medical insertion used for support or treatment.”
Modern English
EN
pessary
“A device inserted into the vagina to support organs or deliver medication.”