trepan

1 of 4

verb (1)

tre·pan tri-ˈpan

trepanned; trepanning

transitive verb

: to use a trephine on (the skull)

: to remove a disk or cylindrical core (as from metal for testing)

trepanation

ˌtre-pə-ˈnā-shən

noun

trepan

2 of 4

noun (1)

tre·pan ˈtrē-ˌpan

tri-ˈpan

: a heavy tool used in boring mine shafts

trepan

3 of 4

noun (2)

tre·pan tri-ˈpan

archaic : trickster

archaic : a deceptive device : snare

trepan

4 of 4

verb (2)

tre·pan tri-ˈpan

trepanned; trepanning

transitive verb

archaic

: entrap, lure

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English trepanen "to bore holes into the skull," borrowed from Medieval Latin trapanāre, trepanāre, derivative of trepanum trepan entry 2

Noun (1)

Middle English trepane, trapane "instrument used to bore holes into the skull," borrowed from Medieval Latin trepanum, borrowed from Greek trȳ́panon "tool for boring holes in wood, drill," from trȳp-, base of trȳpáō, trȳpân "to drill a hole through, bore" + -anon, suffix of instruments; trȳpáō, trȳpân perhaps extended form of trȳ́ō, trȳ́ein "to tire, wear out," going back to Indo-European *truH-i̯e-, whence also Old Church Slavic natrovǫ, natruti "to nourish," Polish truć "to poison," and, from a causative *trou̯-i̯e-, Old Church Slavic otraviti "to poison"

Note: The base *truH- has been taken as an extended form of *treh₁-/*terh₁- "rub, bore" (see throw entry 1, trite), though the only point of comparison are the two initial consonants.

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

circa 1877, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1641, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

circa 1656, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of trepan was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Trepan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trepan. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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trepan

verb (1)

noun (1)

noun (2)

verb (2)

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near trepan