triceps

[trahy-seps]

noun

Anatomy.

plural

tricepses, triceps 

1. a muscle having three heads or points of origin, especially the muscle on the back of the arm, the action of which straightens the elbow.

triceps

/ ˈtraɪsɛps /

noun

1. any muscle having three heads, esp the one ( triceps brachii ) that extends the forearm

triceps

1. The muscle at the back of the upper arm that raises and lowers the forearm. The triceps has three points of attachment to bone at its origin.

Word History and Origins

Origin of triceps¹

1570–80; < Latin: three-headed, equivalent to tri- tri- + -ceps, stem -cipit- -headed, derivative of caput head

Word History and Origins

Origin of triceps¹

C16: from Latin, from _tri- + caput head

Related Words

• branch 
• rod 
• wing