Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “vulvectomy” come from?

vulvectomy (English) comes from English vulva, from Latin vulva, from Latin volva, from Latin volvo, from Proto-Indo-European welw-, from Proto-Indo-European wēlH-, from Proto-Indo-European welH- — to turn, to wind.

vulvectomy (English): The surgical removal of some or all of the vulva

Definitions

  1. The surgical removal of some or all of the vulva

Ancestry of “vulvectomy”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishvulvaThe external female sexual organs, collectively;...
2Latinvulvavulva; womb; vocative singular of vulva
3Latinvolvawomb, female sexual organ
4LatinvolvoI roll, tumble
5Proto-Indo-Europeanwelw-hair, wool, grass, ear , forest; to turn, wind,...
6Proto-Indo-EuropeanwēlH-—
7Proto-Indo-EuropeanwelH-to turn, to wind
Every word from Proto-Indo-European welH- →