tourniquet

American  

[tur-ni-kit, toor-] / ˈtɜr nɪ kɪt, ˈtʊər- /

noun

1. Medicine/Medical, Surgery. any device for arresting bleeding by forcibly compressing a blood vessel, as a bandage tightened by twisting.

2. a device for pulling the parts of a wooden piece of furniture together, consisting of a pair of twisted cords passed around the parts.

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tourniquet British  

/ ˈtʊənɪˌkeɪ, ˈtɔː- /

noun

1. med any instrument or device for temporarily constricting an artery of the arm or leg to control bleeding

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Etymology

Origin of tourniquet

1685–95; < French, derivative of tourner to turn

Example Sentences

Jeff Bova, who worked with the production’s transportation department, placed a tourniquet on Sonnier’s leg.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 17, 2025

A passerby used a belt as a tourniquet to stop him from losing too much blood, saving his life.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 9, 2025

Then aged 22, it was Ms Imrie's actions that were credited with saving the life of fellow passenger Paul Mitchell after she tied a tourniquet around his damaged leg.

From BBC • Jul. 7, 2025

The responding officers provided first aid to the sergeant and applied a tourniquet before he was taken to a hospital, where he is recovering.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 28, 2024

The Salvadoran stripped off his shirt and used it to wrap a tourniquet around the leg.

From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario