coccyx

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English

the coccyx

Etymology

From Latin coccyx, from Ancient Greek κόκκυξ (kókkux, cuckoo), referring to the curved shape of a cuckoo's beak when viewed from the side.

Pronunciation

Noun

coccyx (plural coccyges)

  1. (medicine, formal) The final (bottom-most) fused vertebrae at the base of the spine, the tailbone.
    • 2018, Richard Powers, The Overstory, Vintage (2019), page 129:
      He lands on the concrete path and bounces on his coccyx, which cracks the base of his spine.
    • 2024 January 30, Elle Hunt, “‘With orgasm people strive for oblivion’: Poor Things’ intimacy coordinator on consent, orgies and Emma Stone”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
      An actor herself, McAlpine was hands-on, demonstrating “how you penetrate” on screen: “If you can move your coccyx, just arch your back slightly, it looks fantastic,” she says happily. “Those orgy scenes were amazing.”

Synonyms

Hypernyms

Derived terms

Translations

Further reading

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Ancient Greek κόκκυξ (kókkux).

Pronunciation

Noun

coccyx m (plural coccyx)

  1. (anatomy) coccyx, tailbone

Further reading

Latin

Etymology

Borrowed from Ancient Greek κόκκῡξ (kókkūx).

Pronunciation

Noun

coccȳx m (genitive coccȳgis); third declension

  1. (anatomy) coccyx

Declension

Third-declension noun.

Case Singular Plural
Nominative coccȳx coccȳgēs
Genitive coccȳgis coccȳgum
Dative coccȳgī coccȳgibus
Accusative coccȳgem coccȳgēs
Ablative coccȳge coccȳgibus
Vocative coccȳx coccȳgēs

References

  • coccyx”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  • coccyx in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.

Portuguese

Noun

coccyx m (invariable)

  1. Pre-reform spelling (until Brazil 1943/Portugal 1911) of cóccix.