caul
pronunciation
How to pronounce caul in British English:
UK [kɔ:l]
How to pronounce caul in American English:
US [kɔl]
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- Noun:
- part of the peritoneum attached to the stomach and to the colon and covering the intestines
- the inner embryonic membrane of higher vertebrates (especially when covering the head at birth)
Word Origin
- caul (n.)
- early 14c., "close-fitting cap worn by women," from French cale "cap," back-formation from calotte, from Italian callotta, from Latin calautica "type of female headdress with pendent lappets," a foreign word of unknown origin. Medical use, in reference to various membranes, dates to late 14c. Especially of the amnion enclosing the fetus before birth from 1540s. This, if the child is born draped in it, was supersititously supposed to protect against drowning (cauls were advertised for sale in British newspapers through World War I).
Example
- 1. Analysis of premature delivery with caul break earlier on 96 cases .
- 2. That 's not bad for a day 's work , is it , mr caul ?
- 3. Objective understand reason of high occurrence rate of dystocia while caul early broken .
- 4. I also tend to wrap my turkey in caul fat , but I 'm weird .
- 5. But the fat , and the kidneys , and the caul above the liver of the sin offering , he burnt upon the altar ; as the lord commanded moses .