Etymology

sternum

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Today it means: The breastbone, consisting of the manubrium, gladiolus, and xiphoid process. Full definition →

First used 1660New Latin sternum
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The story

  1. New Latin · borrowed fromsternum
  2. English todaysternum

Borrowed from New Latin sternum, related to Old English steorn (“forehead”), German Stirn (“forehead”).

First known use, by meaning

  • from 1660 The breastbone, consisting of the manubrium, gladiolus, and xiphoid process.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.