steatopygia
1
9.9
- noun
- /ˌstiːəˈtɒpɪdʒɪə/
- Specialized
- Gimbutas writes, "the question of steatopygia (extreme accumulation of fat on the buttocks) of Upper Paleolithic and Neolithic Venuses"
Examples
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Many people in certain African cultures are noted for their natural steatopygia, which emphasizes the physical beauty of their bodies.
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Three such mechanisms of corporal mapping feature prominently in Wicomb's novel: scars, the birth caul, and steatopygia.
Academic text (2008) -
According to Graham, David's Story addresses these very issues by mapping the characters' physical bodies with the scars, birth cauls, and steatopygia that link them not only to their traumatized ancestors but to the land itself.
Academic text (2008) -
The third motif, which recurs with still greater frequency, is that of steatopygia, a term for the deposits of fat typically found in the buttocks of Khoi women, including the Griquas.
Academic text (2008) -
In anthropological studies, steatopygia is observed as a physiological characteristic distinct to various populations.
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The term steatopygia refers to a condition where there is a significant accumulation of fat specifically on the buttocks.
Surface Forms
Morphology
steatopygia = steato + pygia
Formed from technical Greek combining forms 'steato-' (fat) and '-pygia' (buttocks) which are not productive or recognizable to average learners, so the meaning is not derivable from familiar English base words.
Etymology
Steatopygia comes from Greek parts steato- 'fat' and -pygia 'buttock', so it literally names the condition of having a large amount of fat on the buttocks. It is used by doctors and scientists who study people to describe this physical trait in some populations.