fontanel

American  

[fon-tn-el] / ˌfɒn tnˈɛl /

Or fontanelle

noun

Anatomy.

1. one of the spaces, covered by membrane, between the bones of the fetal or young skull.

---

Etymology

Origin of fontanel

1375–1425; late Middle English fontinel < Middle French fontanele little spring, diminutive of fontaine fountain

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fontanel

There’s a heart, too, and a jaw, and a semi-skeleton infant with an unclosed fontanel.

From New York Times ● Oct. 8, 2021

I was gobsmacked by my babies: their meaty beauty and smell, the doughy smoothness of their skin, the pulsing crater of fontanel.

From New York Times ● Apr. 16, 2015

Once the fontanel grew over, however, the hat could be safely removed.

From Salon ● Feb. 16, 2014

The tender fontanel at the top of her head was tense and bulging, and thick blue veins stood out like cords underneath her downy hair.

From Time Magazine Archive

I peeled one and rolled it all over the baby’s head, his eyes, his lips, off his bump of a nose, his cheeks, his dear bald head and fontanel.

From "The Woman Warrior" by Maxine Hong Kingston