Phlebotomy
/fləˈbɒtəmi/noun
The practice of making an incision in a vein to draw blood.
Did you know?In ancient Egypt, bloodletting was believed to balance the body's humors and was often linked to magical healing rituals.
Etymological Timeline
Greek Antiquity
Greek
φλεβοτομία (phlebotomia)
“A term used for the surgical act of cutting veins.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
phlebotomia
“Adoption of the Greek term into Latin, maintaining its medical connotation.”
14th Century
Middle English
phlebotomie
“Emergence into English medical texts, referring to bloodletting practices.”
Modern English
English
phlebotomy
“Formalization of the term in contemporary medical vernacular, largely associated with blood donation and transfusions.”
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