tourniquet

noun

tour·​ni·​quet ˈtu̇r-ni-kət  ˈtər- 

: a device (such as a band of rubber) that checks bleeding or blood flow by compressing blood vessels

Examples of tourniquet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The soldiers, according to witnesses, instead triaged themselves with makeshift bandages, braces and tourniquets. — Michael Kaplan, CBS News, 24 June 2026

Times video taken at the scene shows one man lying on the ground, his leg bleeding and wrapped with a green garment as a tourniquet, while others help him. — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026

One, a pediatric ER doctor, wrapped his arm in a makeshift tourniquet and stuffed the wound to staunch the bleeding while others called for help. — Los Angeles Times, Boston Herald, 8 June 2026

Crago credited his friend and nearby hikers for rushing to his aid following the incident, saying one of the nearby hikers was a doctor who fashioned a tourniquet on his arm to reduce blood loss. — Nic Uff, ABC News, 8 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, turnstile, tourniquet, from tourner to turn, from Old French — more at turn

First Known Use

1695, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

tourniquet

noun

tour·​ni·​quet ˈtu̇r-ni-kət  ˈtər- 

: a device (as a band of rubber) used to stop or slow bleeding or blood flow by compressing blood vessels

Medical Definition

tourniquet

noun

tour·​ni·​quet ˈtu̇r-ni-kət  ˈtər- 

: a device (as a bandage twisted tight with a stick) to check bleeding or blood flow