ballottement

[ buh-lot-muhnt ]

noun

, Medicine/Medical.

1. a physical diagnostic technique used to detect solid objects surrounded by fluid, as abdominal organs or tumors, performed by suddenly compressing the fluid with the hand, causing the solid object to abut against the hand.

ballottement

/ bəˈlɒtmənt /

noun

1. med a technique of feeling for a movable object in the body, esp confirmation of pregnancy by feeling the rebound of the fetus following a quick digital tap on the wall of the uterus

Word History and Origins

Origin of ballottement¹

1830–40; < French: a tossing, equivalent to ballotte ( r ) to move, stir ( ballotade ) + -ment -ment

Word History and Origins

Origin of ballottement¹

C19: from French, literally: a tossing, shaking, from ballotter to toss, from ballotte a little ball, from Italian ballotta ; see ballot