See also: clitóris and clítoris

English [ edit ]

clitoris English Wikipedia has an article on: Wikipedia

Etymology [ edit ]

From post-classical Latin clitoris (16th century), or its source, Koine Greek κλειτορίς (kleitorís), probably from Ancient Greek κλείω (kleíō, “I sheathe, shut”), in reference to its being covered by the labia minora.

The related noun form κλείς (kleís) has a second meaning of "a key, a latch or hook (to close a door)." Wooden pegs were the original keys; a connection also revealed in Latin clavis (“nail”) and claudere (“to shut”) (see close). Some medical sources give a supposed Greek verb κλειτοριάζω (kleitoriázō, “touch or titillate lasciviously, tickle”) literally "to be inclined (toward pleasure)" (compare German Kitzler (“clitoris”, literally “tickler”), related to Greek κλειτύς (kleitús), a variant of κλιτύς (klitús, “hillside”), related to κλίνω (klínō, “I slope”), from the same root as κλῖμαξ (klîmax, “ladder”). But many sources take κλειτορίς (kleitorís) literally as Ancient Greek "little hill".

Pronunciation [ edit ]

Noun [ edit ]

clitoris (plural clitorises or clitorides)

( anatomy ) A sensitive elongated erectile organ at the anterior part of the vulva in female humans and mammals, homologous with the penis. 1740 , Anonymous, A Dialogue Between a Lady and a Maid : Juſt before them, towards the upper Part of the C—t, is a Thing they call Clitoris , which, is a little like a Man's P—k, for it will ſwell, and ſtand like his […].

, Anonymous, : 1999, Natalie Angier, Woman: An Intimate Geography, p. 65: The average infant clitoris, when measured from the base of the shaft to the top of the glans, is about 4 or 5 millimeters, the height of a pencil eraser. ( ornithology ) A similar erectile sexual organ present in the cloacas of female ratites.

Synonyms [ edit ]

See also Thesaurus:clitoris.

Hypernyms [ edit ]

Derived terms [ edit ]

Translations [ edit ]

Anagrams [ edit ]

Dutch [ edit ]

Etymology [ edit ]

Borrowed from New Latin clitoris, from Ancient Greek κλειτορίς (kleitorís).

Pronunciation [ edit ]

IPA (key) : /ˈkli.toː.rɪs/

: Audio

Hyphenation: cli‧to‧ris

Noun [ edit ]

clitoris f (plural clitores or clitorissen, diminutive clitorisje n )

Related terms [ edit ]

French [ edit ]

Etymology [ edit ]

From Ancient Greek κλειτορίς (kleitorís).

Pronunciation [ edit ]

Noun [ edit ]

clitoris m (plural clitoris)

Further reading [ edit ]

“clitoris” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Interlingua [ edit ]

Noun [ edit ]

clitoris (uncountable)