Resembling or relating to the carotid artery, or having characteristics similar to it.
Derived from carotid (from Greek karotides, meaning the arteries of the neck), with the suffix -oid meaning 'resembling' or 'like'. The Greek root likely comes from karos (stupor), as pressure on these arteries could cause unconsciousness.
Ancient Greek physicians noticed that applying pressure to the carotid arteries in the neck could make someone faint instantly—they named them after the Greek word for 'stupor' because they understood these vessels controlled blood flow to the brain!
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