Prostate
/ˈprɒs.teɪt/noun
A gland in men that surrounds the urethra just below the bladder.
Did you know?The medical term was borrowed from Greek *prostátēs*, meaning “one who stands before,” a word also used for a protector or overseer, so the gland’s name began as a position word, not a body part.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
prostátēs (προστάτης)
“a protector, guardian, or one who stands before”
Late Latin
Latin
prostata
“the prostate gland”
16th Century
English
prostate
“the prostate gland”
Modern English
English
prostate
“the male gland surrounding the urethra below the bladder”
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