thelium

English

Etymology

From New Latin, from Ancient Greek θηλή (thēlḗ, “nipple”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈθi.lɪ.əm/

Noun

thelium (plural thelia)

1. A nipple or papilla.

Usage notes

Originally an anatomical term, this word seems to have fallen out of usage, and appears to only be documented in Webster's NID, Second Ed., 1934. Notably, it was not included in Webster's Third NID, 1961 and may have gone out of usage by then. It is not in current usage in the medical field, where the Latin word papilla is the standard term.

Related terms

• thelion
• thelitis

References

Webster's New International Dictionary, Second Edition, 1934