clitoris

From Ancient Greek κλειτορίς (kleitorís), a diminutive of uncertain origin, probably from κλείω (kleíō, “I sheathe, shut”), in reference to its being covered by the labia minora.

The related noun form κλείς (kleís) has a second meaning of "a key, a latch or hook (to close a door)." Wooden pegs were the original keys; a connection also revealed in Latin clavis (“nail”) and claudere (“to shut”) (see close). Some medical sources give a supposed Greek verb κλειτοριάζω (kleitoriázō, “touch or titillate lasciviously, tickle”) literally "to be inclined (toward pleasure)" (compare German Kitzler (“clitoris”, literally “tickler”), related to Greek κλειτύς (kleitús), a variant of κλιτύς (klitús, “hillside”), related to κλίνω (klínō, “I slope”), from the same root as κλῖμαξ (klîmax, “ladder”). But many sources take κλειτορίς (kleitorís) literally as Ancient Greek "little hill".

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈklɪtəɹɪs/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈklɪtəɹɪs/, /klɪˈtɔɹɪs/, [kl̴ɪɾəɹɪs]

clitoris (plural clitorises or clitorides)

1. (anatomy) A sensitive elongated erectile organ at the anterior part of the vulva in female humans and mammals, homologous with the penis.

See also Thesaurus:clitoris.

• clit
• button
• love button
• pearl

• primordial phallus, genital tubercle
• genitals

• coistril

Borrowed from New Latin clitoris, from Ancient Greek κλειτορίς (kleitorís).

• IPA^(key): /ˈkli.toː.rɪs/

• Audio

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• Hyphenation: cli‧to‧ris

clitoris f (plural clitores or clitorissen, diminutive clitorisje n)

1. clitoris

   Synonym: kittelaar

• clit
• clitoridectomie

From Ancient Greek κλειτορίς (kleitorís).

• IPA^(key): /kli.tɔ.ʁis/

clitoris m (plural clitoris)

1. clitoris

• “clitoris” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

clitoris (uncountable)

1. clitoris