trephine

[ trih-fahyn, -feen ]

noun

1. a small circular saw with a center pin mounted on a strong hollow metal shaft to which is attached a transverse handle: used in surgery to remove circular disks of bone from the skull.

verb (used with object)

, tre·phined, tre·phin·ing.

1. to operate upon with a trephine.

trephine

/ trɪˈfiːn; ˌtrɛfɪˈneɪʃən /

noun

1. a surgical sawlike instrument for removing circular sections of bone, esp from the skull

verb

1. tr to remove a circular section of bone from (esp the skull)

Derived Forms

• trephination, noun

Other Words From

• treph·i·na·tion [tref-, uh, -, ney, -sh, uh, n], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of trephine¹

1620–30; spelling variant of trefine, originally trafine, blend of trapan (variant of trepan ¹ ) and Latin phrase trēs fīnēs three ends (the inventor's explanation)

Word History and Origins

Origin of trephine¹

C17: from French tréphine , from obsolete English trefine trepan ¹, allegedly from Latin trēs fīnēs literally: three ends; influenced also by English trepane trepan ¹

Example Sentences

He opposed violently the prevalent abuse of the trephine, and was also a champion of healing by first intention.

From Project Gutenberg

The galvano-cautery, trephine, and spokeshave should be avoided.

From Project Gutenberg

Their removal may also be satisfactorily effected with a minute cutaneous trephine.

From Project Gutenberg

Celsus graphically describes the trephine and the method of its application.

From Project Gutenberg

The trephine used should be three-quarters of an inch to one inch in diameter according as the patient is a child or an adult.

From Project Gutenberg