Where does “sphincter” come from?

Sphincter comes from Middle French sphincter, from Late Latin sphincter, from Ancient Greek σφιγκτήρ, derived from σφίγγω meaning to squeeze or bind tightly.

sphincter (English): A ringlike band of muscle that surrounds a bodily...

Definitions

  1. A ringlike band of muscle that surrounds a bodily...

Ancestry of “sphincter”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Late Latinsphincter
2Ancient GreekσφῐγκτήρThat which binds tight; a lace, band

Words derived from “sphincter

Every word from Ancient Greek σφῐγκτήρ