tonsile

adjective

ton·​sile

ˈtän(t)sə̇l,

-nˌsīl

archaic

: suitable for being shorn or clipped

Word History

Etymology

Latin tonsilis, from tonsus (past participle of tondēre to shear, clip, crop) + -ilis -ile

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!