stethoscope

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a medical instrument used to listen to sounds made by the heart, lungs, and other internal organs

   The doctor placed the stethoscope against the patient's chest and listened to her breathing.

Borrowed from French stéthoscope, coined in 1816 by physician René Laennec from Greek stethos ("chest") + skopein ("to look at, examine"). The name reflects the instrument's use in examining sounds within the chest.

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