Piriform
/ˈpɪrɪfɔːrm/noun
Shaped like a pear, being broader at one end and tapering toward the other.
Did you know?Anatomists use *piriformis*, meaning “pear-shaped,” for a muscle in the buttock whose form inspired its name.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*per-
“A reconstructed root associated with producing or bearing fruit; its exact connection to the pear word is debated.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἄπιον (ápion)
“Pear; an early Mediterranean form related to the ancient word-family for pear.”
Classical Latin
Latin
pirum
“Pear.”
Classical Latin
Latin
forma
“Shape, form, or appearance.”
Medieval/Neo-Latin
Latin
piriformis
“Pear-shaped; formed from *pirum* plus *forma*.”
19th Century
English
piriform
“Adopted into scientific and anatomical English for objects shaped like a pear.”