Etymology

bougie

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Today it means: A tapered cylindrical instrument for introducing an object into a tubular anatomical structure, or to dilate such a structure, as with an esophageal bougie. Full definition →

French bougie
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bougie · noun1

  1. French · borrowed frombougie“wax candle”
  2. English todaybougie

Borrowed from French bougie (“wax candle”), after the Algerian city Bougie (Béjaïa), and the tapered, hand-dipped candles it made. The medical instruments were originally made from waxed linen. Doublet of bugia.

bougie · adjective, noun2

From bourgeoisie.

Bougie · proper noun3

Probably of French origin.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.