scalpel

[ skal-puhl ]

noun

1. a small, light, usually straight knife used in surgical and anatomical operations and dissections.

scalpel

/ ˈskælpəl; skælˈpɛlɪk /

noun

1. a surgical knife with a short thin blade

Derived Forms

• scalpellic, adjective

Other Words From

• scal·pel·lic [skal-, pel, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of scalpel¹

1735–45; < Latin scalpellum, diminutive of scalprum tool for scraping or paring (derivative of scalpere to scratch); for formation castellum

Word History and Origins

Origin of scalpel¹

C18: from Latin scalpellum, from scalper a knife, from scalpere to scrape

Example Sentences

As the New York Times reported, “Mr. Trump has told Mr. Musk that he wants him to bring the same scalpel to the federal government that he brought to Twitter.”

From Slate

Although it sets itself up to be about something more than a guy creatively luring women to slavery and slaughter, “Heretic” doesn’t need to be anything more than it is — not every film can reflect real social horror with the scalpel’s edge of “Get Out.”

From Los Angeles Times

If an abortion clinic orders a scalpel, that might be considered a federal crime too.

From Slate

Ms Wisniewska then uses a scalpel to make a small hole and inserts a long cannula attached to a suction machine on the floor and begins to suck out fat.

From BBC

Writing in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2020, one medical student shared her experience finding out that her first patient was in fact an unclaimed body after she had already sliced into him with a scalpel.

From Salon

Related Words

• bayonet
• blade
• cutter
• dagger
• machete
• sickle
• skewer
• sword