surgeon English · revision 7532

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=grc χειρουργός}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈsɜːd͡ʒən/ ''(UK)''; /ˈsɝd͡ʒən/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English sorgien, surgien, [[bor|xno|surgien]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) a contraction of Old French serurgien, cirurgien,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from cirurgie, [[surgery]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from Latin [[m|la|chirurgia|t=surgery]], from Greek [[m|grc|χειρουργία|tr=kheirourgía|t=handiwork, surgery]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) from kheirourgós, working by hand, from [[m|grc|χείρ|tr=kheír|t=hand]] and [[m|grc|ἔργον|tr=érgon|t=work]] (see [[work]]).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ One who heals by manual operation: probably about 1300, in ''The Romance of Guy of Warwick''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Word Origins notes that the key point in the history is that surgeons work with their hands, using manual skill rather than drugs.^(Cresswell 2021) The forms surgen (before 1375) and surgeon (before 1400) followed,^(Barnhart 1988) and surgener was also used in the early 15th century.^(Etymonline) A medical officer in the army or navy is from 1591,^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986) and ''surgeon general'', an officer of high rank, by 1889.^(Etymonline) The surgeon-fish (1871) is named for the lancet-shaped spine on each side of its tail.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – sorgien.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1400 – surgeon.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1591 – a military medical officer.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1871 – surgeon-fish.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1889 – surgeon general.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[physician]] who specializes in [[surgery]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A medical officer in the armed forces, especially the Royal Navy.^(OED 1989)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[surgeonfish]]

+ * [[plastic surgeon]]

+ * [[surgeon general]]

+ * [[surgeon's knot]]

+ * [[veterinary surgeon]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[surgery]]

+ * [[surgical]]

+ * [[chiropractor]]

+ * [[work]]

+ * [[energy]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}