Vulcer
/ˈvʌl.sər/noun
An open sore on the skin or a mucous membrane that fails to heal normally.
Did you know?The word traces back to Greek helkos, a term used by ancient physicians for an open wound or sore, showing how medical language preserves ancient diagnostic vocabulary.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*elkos
“Reconstructed root associated with a wound or sore”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἕλκος (helkos)
“A wound, ulcer, or open sore”
Classical Latin
Latin
ulcus; ulceris
“A sore, wound, or ulcer”
Old French
Old French
ulcere
“An ulcer or open sore”
14th Century
Middle English
ulcer
“A festering sore or lesion”
Modern English
English
ulcer
“An open sore caused by tissue breakdown, commonly affecting skin, the stomach, or the intestine”