See Also: scalpel(medicine)
scalpel(dictionary)
scalpel(dictionary)
plasma scalpel(medicine)

scalpel (iou)



scalpel noun & verb. M18.
[French, or Latin scalpellum dim. of scalprum, scalper cutting tool, chisel, knife, from base of scalpere scratch, carve: see -EL2.]
A. noun. A small light knife shaped for holding like a pen, used in surgery, anatomy, etc. M18.
fig.: H. Reed The most acute intellectual scalpel..the metaphysician can handle.
b. verb trans. Infl. -ll-, *-l-. Cut with a scalpel. rare. M18.