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Glite Dictionary
Hirudo medicinalis

Hirudo medicinalis

9.9
A large European freshwater leech used in medicine in the past and sometimes today
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Hirudo medicinalis
  • In the 19th century, Hirudo medicinalis was widely used by doctors for bloodletting procedures.

Examples

  • Today, Hirudo medicinalis is still bred for certain medical applications such as microsurgery.

  • Researchers study Hirudo medicinalis to better understand the properties of its anticoagulant saliva.

  • The Hirudo medicinalis is often found in freshwater lakes.

  • In ancient times, Hirudo medicinalis was used for bloodletting.

  • In the 19th century, Hirudo medicinalis was widely used by doctors for bloodletting procedures.

  • In ancient times, Hirudo medicinalis was used for bloodletting.

  • Today, Hirudo medicinalis is still bred for certain medical applications such as microsurgery.

Synonyms

medicinal leech
vsHirudo medicinalis
  • UK
6.9

A large freshwater worm that doctors used to take blood from patients

is the same biological description but lacks the parenthetical scientific name

Surface Forms

Hirudo medicinalis singular
Hirudo medicinalis plural

Morphology

Hirudo + medicinalis

This is a Latin binomial combining the genus name 'Hirudo' (a type of leech) with the adjective 'medicinalis' (cognate with English 'medicinal' meaning 'used in medicine'). A learner who knows both constituents can straightforwardly infer 'medicinal leech' / 'a leech used in medicine', so the meaning is compositionally transparent.

Etymology

Hirudo medicinalis is the Latin name for the 'medicinal leech' doctors used to put on patients to suck blood. The words Hirudo, meaning 'leech', and medicinalis, meaning 'for medicine', give a clear picture of a leech used in treatment, so the name today refers to a leech used in medicine.