Stethoscope
/ˈstɛθ.ə.skoʊp/noun
An instrument used to listen to internal sounds of the body, especially the heart and lungs.
Did you know?Stethoscope was coined in 1816 by French physician René Laennec from Greek roots, turning ancient language into a machine for hearing what was once invisible.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Gk
stēthos
“chest, breast”
Ancient Greek
Gk
skopein
“to look at, examine”
1816
French
stéthoscope
“an instrument for examining the chest by sound”
19th Century
English
stethoscope
“a medical instrument for listening to internal body sounds”
Modern English
English
stethoscope
“a device used to auscultate the heart, lungs, and other body sounds”