rongeur

[ rohn-zhur; French rawn-zhœr ]

noun

, Surgery.

, plural ron·geurs [rohn-, zhurz, r, aw, n, -, zhœr].

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of rongeur¹

1880–85; < French: literally, gnawer

Example Sentences

The jagged ends of the fifth rib were cleaned with a rongeur; approximately 200 cc.

From Project Gutenberg

A probe is then passed into the ostium, and the anterior wall of the sinus is removed with a curette or rongeur forceps.

From Project Gutenberg

All suspect there is un ver—rongeur—a worm eating at her heart; that she suffers from a passion of the past.

From Project Gutenberg

The barghest has a kinsman in the Rongeur d'Os of Norman folklore.

From Project Gutenberg