testicle
UK: ˈtɛstɪk(ə)l | US: ˈtɛstɪk(ə)l
n. Either of the two oval organs that produce sperm in male mammals, enclosed in the scrotum behind the penis.
testicle = test<witness> + icle<small>
- test (from Latin testis, meaning "witness" or "testicle"; historically linked to the idea of male virility as "bearing witness" to masculinity).
- icle (diminutive suffix from Latin -iculus, indicating small size).
Etymology Origin:
The word testicle traces back to Latin testiculus, a diminutive of testis ("witness"). The connection between "witness" and the anatomical term is debated: some theories suggest Roman men swore oaths while holding their genitals (as a solemn gesture), while others propose testis originally meant "stand by" (as in supporting reproduction). The suffix -icle emphasizes the organ's small size. Over time, the term evolved in Middle English via Old French testicule.
The doctor examined his testicles for signs of abnormality.
Testicles produce both sperm and testosterone.
In some species, testicles descend into the scrotum after birth.
Pain in the testicles should never be ignored.
The testicles are protected by the scrotum.