clitoris
Plural: clitorides, clitorises
Noun
- A small, sensitive erectile organ in the female external genitalia.
- a female sexual organ homologous to the penis
- A sensitive elongated erectile sex organ at the anterior part of the vulva in female humans and other mammals.
- A similar erectile sexual organ present in the cloacas of female amniotes.
Examples
- She complains that her boyfriend can't find her clitoris.
- stimulate the clitoris
- The anatomical term CLITORIS is a valid, high-scoring word in Scrabble.
Origin / Etymology
From post-classical Latin clītoris (16th century), or its source, Koine Greek κλειτορίς (kleitorís), probably from Ancient Greek κλείω (kleíō, “I sheathe, shut”), in reference to its being covered by the labia minora.
The related noun form κλείς (kleís) 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 (kleitoriázō, “touch or titillate lasciviously, tickle”) literally "to be inclined (toward pleasure)" (compare German Kitzler (“clitoris”, literally “tickler”), related to Greek κλειτύς (kleitús, “shut, closed”), a variant of κλιτύς (klitús, “hillside”), related to κλίνω (klínō, “I slope”), from the same root as κλῖμαξ (klîmax, “ladder”). But many sources take κλειτορίς (kleitorís) literally as Ancient Greek "little hill".
Synonyms
button, clit, bean, boy in the boat, butter bean, clitoris, devil's doorbell, happy button, jewel, kernel, knob, little man in the boat, love button, lovebud, nub, nubbin, panic button, pearl, skittle, sugar plum, sweet spot
Scrabble Score: 10
clitoris: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Wordclitoris: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
clitoris: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary