Etymology

sigmoidoscope

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Today it means: An instrument used for examining the sigmoid colon. Full definition →

Ancient Greek σκοπέω (skopéō) ← Proto-Hellenic *sképt͏̌omai ← Proto-Indo-European *spéḱyeti
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The story

  1. Ancient Greekσῑγμοειδής (sīgmoeidḗs)
  2. Englishsigmoid
  3. Proto-Indo-European*speḱ-
  4. Proto-Indo-European*spéḱyeti
  5. Proto-Hellenic*sképt͏̌omai
  6. Ancient Greekσκέπτομαι (sképtomai)
  7. Ancient Greekσκοπός (skopós)
  8. Ancient Greekσκοπέω (skopéō)
  9. English todaysigmoidoscope

From sigmoid + -o- + -scope.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.