chiro

¹

[ cheer-oh ]

noun

, plural chi·ros.

1. the ladyfish, Elops saurus.

chiro-

²

1. a combining form meaning “hand,” used in the formation of compound words:

   chiromancy.

chiro-

¹

combining_form

1. indicating the hand; of or by means of the hand

   chiromancy

chiro

²

/ ˈkaɪrəʊ /

noun

1. informal.
   a chiropractor

Word History and Origins

Origin of chiro¹

Origin uncertain

Origin of chiro²

Combining form of Greek cheír hand

Word History and Origins

Origin of chiro¹

via Latin from Greek kheir hand

Example Sentences

“One of the good things about the Seattle film community is that people are very accessible. They’re very friendly. Whether you take Megan Griffiths or S.J. Chiro or Jane Charles or anyone. They’re there. They will talk to you.”

From Seattle Times

In the caption of the video on TikTok, Momma Chiro, a chiropractic practitioner located in Huntington Beach, California, says the mom reported the baby is "less fussy" after receiving their chiropractic care.

From Salon

Many videos are of clinics, like Momma Chiro, promoting their work.

From Salon

The Momma Chiro TikTok video is part of a bigger trend on social media: babies at the chiropractor.

From Salon

In Huntington Beach, Calif., videos show clinicians at Momma’s Chiro guiding babies through bicycle kicks to help them with constipation.

From Washington Post

Words That Use chiro-

What does chiro- mean?

Chiro- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “hand.” It is often used in medical and scientific terms.

Chiro- comes from the Greek cheír, meaning “hand.” Bats (the winged mammals) are sometimes called chiropters, a name that literally means “hand-winged,” because their wing membranes are supported by the extended digits of the forelimbs. And chiromancy, another word for palmistry, is the art or practice of telling fortunes and interpreting character from the lines and configurations of the palm of a person’s hand; it literally means “hand divination.”

What are variants of chiro-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, chiro- becomes chir-. Another variant of chiro- is cheiro–, as in cheirokinesthesia.

Examples of chiro-

You may have heard (or visited) a chiropractor, a practitioner of a therapeutic system, which is known as chiropractic and involves making adjustments on the spinal column.

The first part of these words, chiro-, means “hand.” The second part comes from the Greek word praktikós, source of practical and is based on a verb meaning “to do, act.” So, a chiropractor has the literal sense of “doing by hand,” a reference to how chiropractors use their hands to make adjustments to the spine.

What are some words that use the combining form chiro-?

• chirography
• chirognostic
• chiromegaly
• chiropodalgia
• chirospasm

What are some other forms that chiro- may be commonly confused with?

• cheilo-
• chilo-
• chondro- 
• chorio-
• choreo-

Break it down!

Keeping in mind that -graphy refers to “writing,” what is an everyday term for chirography?