Spondylose
/spɒnˈdaɪləʊs/noun
A form of degenerative spinal disease, especially involving abnormal vertebral changes.
Did you know?Spondylose comes from the same Greek root as medical words for the spine and vertebrae, and that root originally referred to a segment or jointed piece, not a mystical curse.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
GRK
σπόνδυλος (spóndylos)
“vertebra; also a jointed segment or bead-like piece”
Late Latin
LAT
spondylus
“vertebra, spinal bone”
Modern Medical Latin
LAT
spondylosis
“degenerative condition of the vertebrae or spine”
Modern French/English medical usage
FR/EN
spondylose
“degenerative spinal disease, especially spinal osteoarthritis”
Explore more surprising origins