Definition

A tool used in surgery to scrape or remove bone tissue.

Example

The surgeon used a xyster to carefully scrape the damaged bone during the operation.

Conversation

I learned about a tool called a xyster in my anatomy class.

Oh really? What does it do?

It's a surgical instrument used for scraping bones.

That sounds intense! I didn't know there were so many specialized tools.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Xyster is derived from the Greek word "xyston" (meaning a scraped or polished surface), which refers to a tool used for scraping or smoothing surfaces, particularly in the context of surgery or medicine. The term has been adopted into English to denote a specific surgical instrument used for scraping bone or tissue.

Memory Tip

Think of the Greek word for a polished surface, 'xyston', to remember that a xyster is a tool used for scraping or smoothing in medical procedures.

Visually Confused Words