To remove the pollice or thumb; to deprive of the thumb or thumblike appendage.
From Latin 'e-' (out) + 'pollice' (thumb). An extremely rare anatomical or surgical term, likely from Latin medical terminology, referring to removal or loss of a thumb.
This obscure surgical term reveals how Latin could express very specific actions—'epollicate' literally means 'to thumb away,' and it shows up in old medical texts as a precise term for a specific injury or procedure.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.