fleam

[fleem]

noun

1. Surgery.,  a kind of lancet, as for opening veins.

2. the beveled leading edge of a sawtooth.

fleam

/ fliːm /

noun

1. archaic,  a lancet used for letting blood

Word History and Origins

Origin of fleam¹

1375–1425; late Middle English fleme, fleom < Middle French flieme ≪ Late Latin phlebotomus, < Greek phlebotómon; phlebo-, tome

Word History and Origins

Origin of fleam¹

C16: from Old French flieme , alteration of Late Latin phlebotomus lancet (literally: vein cutter); see _phlebotomy

Example Sentences

“We have no benefit of lancet or fleam.”

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A piece of hard wood loaded at one end with lead, and used to strike the fleam into the vein.

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The result of this fleam would be that the tooth, instead of cutting equal and level all the way across as in Fig.

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If we give fleam to both faces we alter the indentation, as denoted in Fig.

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Obviously the fleam makes the points weak, but this in coarse saws may be partially remedied by shaping the teeth as in Fig.

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