Meanings
plural dactylectomies
- rareThe amputation of a finger.
Did you consider multiple dactylectomy? Perhaps if she could only count to 2…
2000, Brian M. Scott, “Why are Headers Screwing Up?”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name)2 more examples
[…] it would appear that amputation or dactylectomy is definitely contraindicated. Of the four patients whose digits were amputated (and who were not included in this series), no change in the prognosis of their general condition was found […]
1947, C.V. Mosby, “American Academy of Pediatrics”, in The Journal of Pediatrics, volume 30, page 156There was also criticism of Clover, the foremost anæsthetist of his day, who had laid down the rules of administering anæsthæsia since the first use of it under his direction in November 1847, by chloroform, for a dactylectomy.
1995–9?, Roman Golicz, “1871–1873: The Last Visit” (chapter 12), in The English Life of Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte: The Life of Napoleon III in the context of Anglo-French Relations
Origin
- Ancient Greekἐκτομή“excision”
- Ancient Greekδάκτυλος“finger”
- Englishdactylectomy
From dactyl- + (from Ancient Greek δάκτυλος (dáktulos, “finger”)) + -ectomy (from Ancient Greek ἐκτομή (ektomḗ, “excision”)).
More words from Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with dactylectomy
Cite this entry
dactylectomy. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dactylectomy
“dactylectomy.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dactylectomy. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “dactylectomy,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dactylectomy.
Source: dactylectomy on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.