Chiropodial

/ˌkaɪrəˈpoʊdiəl/ adjective

Definition

Of or relating to chiropody (podiatry), the medical care and treatment of feet and ankle problems.

Etymology

From 'chiropody' plus '-ial' suffix. 'Chiropody' comes from Greek 'cheir' (hand) and 'pous' (foot), historically because treatment was done manually by hand. Now largely replaced by 'podiatry.'

Kelly Says

Here's a linguistic ghost: 'chiropodial' comes from Greek for 'hand-foot,' since chiropodists literally used their hands to treat feet—but the modern profession dropped the 'hand' part and became 'podiatry,' showing how language evolves as professions rebrand themselves.

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