tongue depressor

American  

noun

1. a broad, thin piece of wood used by doctors to hold down the patient's tongue during an examination of the mouth and throat.

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Etymology

Origin of tongue depressor

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

"Some were friendly, others lacked bedside manners, one even came and inspected me with a wooden tongue depressor," Rhiannon explained.

From BBC • May 16, 2023

As Asma helped arrange paper flowers in a basket on the dining room table, Aqsa — who wore a plastic stethoscope around her neck — used a tongue depressor to check inside Gulsom’s mouth.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 30, 2021

The next morning, a dentist levered my teeth back into place with a tongue depressor and cemented them in line.

From The New Yorker • Nov. 4, 2019

You don’t need a clinical trial to test a new tongue depressor or hospital stretcher.

From Washington Post • Jan. 4, 2019

The observing officer was provided with latex gloves and a tongue depressor.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover