Meanings
plural ginglymi
- anatomyA hinge joint.
The Bones of the Fingers are articulated by Ginglymus, and are fifteen in each Hand.
1702, de La Vauguion, A Compleat Body of Chirurgical Operations, Containing The Whole Practice of Surgery, 2nd edition, page 4081 more example
The Ginglymus is, when a Bone receives and is received; and the Property of this Sort of Articulation is to admit only of the Motions of the Flexion and Extension: It is called by Tradesmen Charnall, and it is commonly used in Hinges.
1723, James Keill, The Anatomy of the Human Body Abridg'd, or A Short and full View of all the Parts of the Body, 7th edition, pages 224–225
Synonyms & antonyms
nouna freely moving joint in which the bones are so articulated as to allow extensive movement in one plane
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Ancient Greekγίγγλυμος“hinge”
- Englishginglymus
From Late Latin, from Ancient Greek γίγγλυμος (gínglumos, “hinge”).
More words from Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
ginglymus. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ginglymus
“ginglymus.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ginglymus. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ginglymus,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ginglymus.
Source: ginglymus on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.