A fingerprint, handprint, or unique hand-based identification pattern used in forensics or identification systems.
From Greek 'cheir' (hand) + 'typos' (type, impression, or mark). This technical term combines the hand reference with the printing/marking concept, emerging in forensic science terminology.
Before 'fingerprint' became the standard term, forensic scientists experimented with various Greek-based words like 'chirotype,' which is a great reminder that scientific terminology isn't fixed—it evolves as fields develop and some terms win out over others.
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