epicanthus

[ ep-i-kan-thuhs ]

noun

, Anatomy.

, plural ep·i·can·thi [ep-i-, kan, -thahy, -thee].

1. a fold of skin extending from the eyelid over the inner canthus of the eye, common among Asian populations.

epicanthus

/ ˌɛpɪˈkænθəs /

noun

1. a fold of skin extending vertically over the inner angle of the eye: characteristic of Mongolian peoples and a congenital anomaly among other races Also calledepicanthic fold

Derived Forms

• ˌepiˈcanthic, adjective

Other Words From

• epi·canthic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of epicanthus¹

From New Latin, dating back to 1860–65; epi-, canthus

Word History and Origins

Origin of epicanthus¹

C19: New Latin, from epi- + Latin canthus corner of the eye, from Greek kanthos

Example Sentences

He was a mischievous-looking boy, who found it hard to refrain from grinning while his portrait was being taken, for I secured his likeness as affording a marked example of the features of prognathism and epicanthus as occurring among the Nicobarese.

From Project Gutenberg