n. A device that pulverizes kidney stones and gallstones by passing shock waves through a water-filled tub in which the patient sits. [Alteration of obsolete lithotriptor, lithontriptor, from lithontriptic, breaking up kidney stones, from New Latin lithontripticus, alteration (influenced by Greek trībein, trīp-, to rub, pound) of lithonthrypticus, from Greek (pharmaka tōn en nephrōis) lithōn thruptika, (drugs) crushing stones (in the kidneys) : lithōn, genitive pl. of lithos, stone + thruptika, neuter pl. of thruptikos, crushing (from thruptein, to crush; see dhreu- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots).] |
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