clitoris

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Etymology

From post-classical Latin clitoris (16th century), or its source, grc-koi κλειτορίς, probably from Ancient Greek κλείω, in reference to its being covered by the labia minora.

The related noun form κλείς has a second meaning of "a key, a latch or hook (to close a door)." Wooden pegs were the original keys; a connection also revealed in Latin clavis ("nail") and claudere ("to shut") (see close). Some medical sources give a supposed Greek verb κλειτοριάζω ("touch or titillate lasciviously, tickle") literally "to be inclined (toward pleasure)" (compare German Kitzler, related to Greek κλειτύς ("shut, closed"), a variant of κλιτύς ("hillside"), related to κλίνω ("I slope"), from the same root as κλῖμαξ ("ladder").

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈklɪtəɹɪs/, IPA: /klɪˈtɔɹɪs/

Noun

clitoris

1. (anatomy) A sensitive elongated erectile organ at the anterior part of the vulva in female humans and other mammals, homologous with the penis. [from 17th c.]

   stimulate the clitoris

   She complains that her boyfriend can't find her clitoris.

2. (zoology) A similar erectile sexual organ present in the cloacas of female amniotes.

Synonyms

• See Thesaurus:clitoris

Related terms

• glans clitoridis, glans clitoris
• os clitoridis
• praeputium clitoridis

Translations

• French: clitoris
• German: Klitoris, Kitzler
• Italian: clitoride
• Portuguese: clitóris
• Russian: кли́тор
• Spanish: clítoris

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