trepanation
3 synonyms for trepanation, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The act of boring or cutting an opening into the skull, historically carried out for medical or ritual purposes.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
trepanning
trephination
trephining
How to use trepanation
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
evidence of trepanation
perform trepanation
a trepanation hole
It is a specialist term used mainly in medical history and archaeology.
Etymology
The word comes from New Latin trepanatio, built on the French trépan, meaning a drill, which itself derives from Latin trepanum. That in turn goes back to the Ancient Greek trupanon, meaning an auger or a drill.
Full origin of trepanation →Frequently asked questions
What is trepanation?
It is the practice of drilling a hole into the skull, historically done as a medical or spiritual treatment.
Is trepanation an ancient practice?
Yes, evidence of trepanation has been found on skulls from ancient times.
What are other names for trepanation?
It is also called trepanning, trephination or trephining.
