stapes

Etymology

From Late Latin stapēs (“stirrup”).

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /ˈsteɪ.piz/

Noun

stapes (plural stapes or stapedes)

1. (anatomy) A small stirrup-shaped bone of the middle ear.
   • 2010, Elaine N. Marieb & Katja Hoehn, Human Anatomy & Physiology, 8th edition, page 576

     The tympanic cavity is spanned by the three smallest bones in the body: the auditory ossicles […] These bones, named for their shape, are the malleus (malʹe-us; "hammer"); the incus (ingʹkus; "anvil"); and the stapes (staʹpēz; "stirrup"). The "handle" of the malleus is secured to the eardrum, and the base of the stapes fits into the oval window.

Anagrams

• Pestas, aspets, pastes, sepats, spates

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sta.pɛs/

Noun

stapes m (plural stapes)

1. stapes

Anagrams

• pestas

Alternative forms

• stapia (rare)

Etymology

From a Germanic source, possibly Frankish *stap or Old High German stapf, staph (“step, stirrup”), both from Proto-Germanic *stapiz (“a step, rung (of a ladder)”). More at step.

Alternatively: Late Latin; possibly from stō (“I stand”) + pēs (“foot”).

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈsta.peːs/

Noun

stapēs m (genitive stapedis); third declension

1. stirrup
   • De Tribus Columnis Juis Secundum Powissienses, Book II, section xvi, para. 8

     […] [quidam duos stapedes et tres cingulas una cum sella annumerant, alii his singulis pretium legitimum assignant, id est, stapedibus auratis]

     […] some two stirrups and three belts with a chair are paid out, all assigned a single worth, that is, golden stirrups

2. (anatomy) stapes (bone in the middle ear)

References

• stapes in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition, 1883–1887)
• stapes in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Hachette
• stapes in Ramminger, Johann (accessed 16 July 2016) Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700‎, pre-publication website, 2005-2016