phimosis

[fahy-moh-sis, fi-]

noun

Pathology.

plural

phimoses 

1. constriction of the orifice of the prepuce so as to prevent the foreskin from being drawn back to uncover the glans penis.

2. a similar condition involving the clitoris.

3. narrowness of the vagina.

phimosis

/ faɪˈməʊsɪs /

noun

1. abnormal tightness of the foreskin, preventing its being retracted over the tip of the penis

Other Word Forms

• phimotic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of phimosis¹

1665–75; < New Latin phīmōsis < Greek phīmṓsis literally, a muzzling, equivalent to phīmō-, verbid stem of phīmoûn to muzzle + -sis -sis

Word History and Origins

Origin of phimosis¹

C17: via New Latin from Greek: a muzzling, from phimos a muzzle

Example Sentences

Marvin was successfully treated for phimosis as a child using steroid cream, and he is concerned some consultants might be advising circumcision unnecessarily.

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Pray, Sir, quoth my uncle Toby, in a manner which could 295 not go unanswered,—in what condition is the boy?—’Twill end in a phimosis, replied Dr. Slop.

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All cases of phimosis should be operated upon in infancy, by complete or partial circumcision.

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The requisites are a sharp-pointed bistoury, blunt-pointed scissors, and a pair of Henry’s phimosis forceps, with fine needles and fine oculists’ suture silk.

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In the other case, in which phimosis also existed, there was paralysis of a few of the muscles of the leg, which produced club-foot.

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