coccyx
nounUS /ˈkɑksɪks/ · UK /ˈkɒksɪks/
Etymology From Latin coccyx, from Ancient Greek κόκκυξ (kókkux, “cuckoo”), referring to the curved shape of a cuckoo's beak when viewed from the side.
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Medicine, Sciences Formal The final (bottom-most) fused vertebrae at the base of the spine, the tailbone.
- He lands on the concrete path and bounces on his coccyx, which cracks the base of his spine.2018, Richard Powers, The Overstory, Vintage (2019), page 129:
- An actor herself, McAlpine was hands-on, demonstrating “how you penetrate” on screen: “If you can move your coccyx, just arch your back slightly, it looks fantastic,” she says happily. “Those orgy scenes were amazing.”2024 January 30, Elle Hunt, “‘With orgasm people strive for oblivion’: Poor Things’ intimacy coordinator on consent, orgies and Emma Stone”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
- Synonyms
- tailbone
- Derived terms
- coccydynia, coccygeal, coccygectomy, coccygeous, sacrococcyx
- Hypernyms
- bone