Tonsillitis
/ˌtɒn.sɪˈlaɪ.tɪs/noun
Inflammation of the tonsils, usually causing a sore throat and difficulty swallowing.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Latin *tonsillae*, the tonsils, which may be related to *tonsa* meaning a shearing or clipping—an eerie reminder that ancient medical words often grew from very physical, body-based imagery.
Etymological Timeline
Late Latin
Latin
tonsillae
“the tonsils”
Classical Latin
Latin
tonsilla
“a tonsil or small swelling in the throat”
Ancient Greek
Greek
amygdalē
“almond; also used for the tonsils because of their shape”
16th Century
French/Medical Latin
tonsillitis
“inflammation of the tonsils”
Modern English
English
tonsillitis
“inflammation of the tonsils”