pericranium

English

Etymology

From late Latin pericranium, from Hellenistic Ancient Greek περικράνιον (perikránion), noun use of the neuter form of περικράνιος (perikránios, “around the skull”), from περί (perí, “around”) + κρανίον (kraníon, “skull”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /pɛɹɪˈkɹeɪnɪəm/

Noun

pericranium (plural pericraniums or pericrania)

1. (anatomy) The membrane (or periosteum) which covers the outer surface of the skull.
   • 1819, Bartholomew Parr, The London Medical Dictionary:

     After making the incision, the pericranium must be raised a little from the bone with the edge of the knife, to clear the bone, and the scalprum employed.

2. (humorous, now rare) The head, skull; one's mind.
   • 1700, Tom Brown, Amusements Serious and Comical, calculated for the Meridian of London, page 10:

     If any Man for that reaſon has an Inclination to divert himſelf, and Sail with me round the Globe, to ſuperviſe almoſt all the Conditions of Humane Life, without being infected with the Vanities, and Vices that attend such a Whimſical Perambulation; let him follow me, who am going to Relate it in a Stile, and Language, proper to the Variety of the Subject: For as the Caprichio came Naturally into my Pericranium, I am reſolv’d to purſue it through Thick and Thin, to enlarge my Capacity for a Man of Buſineſs.

   • 1749, Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, Folio Society, published 1973, page 411:

     Now, Mrs Honour had unluckily poured so much of this liquid fire down her throat, that the smoke of it began to ascend into her pericranium, and blinded the eyes of Reason […]

Derived terms

• pericranial

Related terms

• postcranium