The plural of bistoury; small surgical knives with a straight or curved blade used for fine, precise surgical cuts.
From French bistouri, plural bistouries. The origin is debated—possibly from Pistoia, Italy (known for metalwork) or from Portuguese/Turkish sources. Became standard surgical terminology by the 17th century.
Bistouries were the surgeons' scalpels before modern medicine—they come in curves and straight edges, and because bloodletting was so popular (doctors thought it cured everything!), barber-surgeons kept multiple sizes on hand!
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