écorché

[ ey-kawr-shey ]

noun

1. an anatomical model of part or all of the human body with the skin removed, to allow study of the underlying musculature.

écorché

/ ˌeɪkɔːˈʃeɪ /

noun

1. an anatomical figure without the skin, so that the muscular structure is visible

Word History and Origins

Origin of écorché¹

First recorded in 1855–60; from French: literally, “skinned, flayed,” adjective use of past participle écorché, from the verb écorcher, from Old French escochier “to skin, peel,” from Vulgar Latin excorticāre, equivalent to ex- + cortic- (stem of cortex “bark, rind”) + -āre infinitive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of écorché¹

C19: French, literally: skinned

Example Sentences

I thought that plaster of Paris figure was not the only ecorche in the room.

From Project Gutenberg