fontanel Hear it!

fontanel definition

fon·ta·nel or fontanelle fon′·ta·nelle′ (fänt′'n el′)

noun

  1. Obsolete an opening in the body for the discharge of secretions
  2. any of the soft, boneless areas in the skull of a baby or young animal, which are later closed up by the formation of bone

Etymology: ME fontinel, a hollow, pit (of the body) < OFr fontanele, dim. of fontaine, fountain

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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