Scalpel
Noun
Definition: A knife with a small, sharp, sometimes detachable blade, as used by a surgeon.
Synonyms: Surgical knife, Blade
Antonyms: Bluntness, Dullness
- The surgeon used a scalpel to make a precise incision.
- The surgeon carefully handled the scalpel during the operation.
- Think of the word "scalpel" as a combination of "scalp" and "pel" (meaning "skin"). A scalpel is a knife used to cut the skin during surgery.
Etymology:
The word "scalpel" comes from the Late Latin word "scalpellum," meaning "small knife" or "scalpello," meaning "chisel." It has roots in the Latin word "scalprum," which means "a cutting tool."
Historical Usage:The use of surgical scalpels can be traced back to ancient civilizations like Egypt and Greece, where crude forms of these tools were used for medical procedures.
Related Idioms:
"Under the scalpel"
Explanation:Refers to undergoing surgery or being operated on.
Misconceptions:
Thinking that a scalpel is only used in surgery.
Explanation:While scalpel is primarily associated with surgical procedures, it can also be used in other fields such as anatomy, pathology, and arts and crafts.