malleus
1 synonym for malleus, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — In anatomy, the small hammer-shaped bone in the middle ear.
How to use malleus
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
the malleus and incus
damage to the malleus
the malleus bone
movement of the malleus
This is a technical anatomical term, used mainly in medical and scientific contexts.
Etymology
Malleus comes straight from Latin, where it meant hammer or mallet. It is a doublet of the English word maul, meaning the two words share the same ultimate root.
Full origin of malleus →Frequently asked questions
What does malleus mean?
The malleus is the small hammer-shaped bone in the middle ear that helps carry sound vibrations inward.
Why is it called malleus?
It takes its name from the Latin word for hammer, because of its hammer-like shape.
What is another name for the malleus?
It is commonly called the hammer in everyday English, alongside its Latin name malleus.
