Tophus
/ˈtɒfəs/noun
A hard deposit of uric acid crystals, especially in tissue affected by gout.
Did you know?Tophus comes from Latin and Greek medical language, where it referred to a porous stone or lump, showing how doctors used geology to describe something growing inside the body.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
tophos
“A porous stone or tufa-like rock”
Classical Latin
Latin
tophus
“A porous stone, tufa, or crusty mass”
Late Latin
Latin
tophus (medical use)
“A hard swelling or deposit in the body”
14th-17th Century
English
tophus
“A hard gouty lump or chalky deposit”
Modern English
English
tophus
“A deposit of urate crystals in joints or soft tissue, especially in chronic gout”
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