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rongeur

American  
[rohn-zhur, rawn-zhœr] / roʊnˈʒɜr, rɔ̃ˈʒœr /

noun

Surgery.
rongeurs plural
  1. a strongly constructed instrument with a sharp-edged, scoop-shaped tip, used for gouging out bone.


Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

Etymology

Origin of rongeur

1880–85; < French: literally, gnawer

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He had used a tool called a rongeur to chew up the scar tissue and had accidentally chewed up the scaphoid bone--ending Johnson's ability to do orthopedic surgery.

From Time Magazine Archive

He had used a tool called a rongeur to chew up the scar tissue and had accidentally chewed up the scaphoid bone�ending Johnson's ability to do orthopedic surgery.

From Time Magazine Archive

He put his helmet close to hers and spoke the word rongeur again, and she released her hose.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston

She handed him a pair of pliers called the rongeur.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston

Treatment.—When the abscess is secondary to middle ear disease, the mastoid must be opened, the eroded bone exposed, and sufficient of it removed with rongeur forceps to admit of free drainage.

From Manual of Surgery Volume Second: Extremities—Head—Neck. Sixth Edition. by Miles, Alexander

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