ethmoid

/ˈɛθ.mɔɪd/

ƐΘ · mɔɪd (2 syllables)

English Noun

Definition

A light spongy cubical bone at the root of the nose, forming much of the walls of the nasal cavity and part of those of the orbits and having many perforations through which the olfactory nerves pass to the nose.

Etymology

Borrowing from French ethmoïde, from Ancient Greek ἠθμοειδής (ēthmoeidḗs, “like a strainer, perforated”), from ἠθμός (ēthmós, “strainer, sieve”) + -ειδής (-eidḗs, “-form, -like”).