tenaculum

noun

te·​nac·​u·​lum tə-ˈna-kyə-ləm 

plural tenacula tə-ˈna-kyə-lə  or tenaculums

1

: a slender sharp-pointed hook attached to a handle and used mainly in surgery for seizing and holding parts (such as arteries)

2

: an adhesive animal structure

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

But another study of 1,353 people, cited in that same ACOG paper, found that local anesthesia did help reduce pain when the clinician was using the tenaculum and inserting the IUD. —Jessica Toscano, SELF, 26 Apr. 2022

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin tenāculum (usually in plural tenācula) "forceps, pincers," going back to Latin, "instrument for gripping," from tenēre "to hold, occupy, possess" + -āculum, probably after retināculum "rope, cable" — more at tenant entry 1, retinaculum

First Known Use

circa 1693, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

tenaculum

noun

te·​nac·​u·​lum tə-ˈnak-yə-ləm 

plural tenacula -ˌlə  or tenaculums

: a slender sharp-pointed hook attached to a handle and used mainly in surgery for seizing and holding parts (as arteries)