Xylotomy
/zaɪˈlɒt.ə.mi/noun
The cutting or sectioning of wood, especially for microscopic examination.
Did you know?Xylotomy comes from Greek roots used in scientific Latin, and its eerie, precise sound is one reason technical language can feel almost ceremonial.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
xylon
“wood; a piece of wood”
Ancient Greek
Greek
tomē
“a cutting; incision”
18th-19th Century
Scientific Latin
xylotomia
“cutting of wood; preparation of wood sections”
Modern English
English
xylotomy
“the cutting or sectioning of wood for study”