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Webster 1913 Edition


Trepan

Tre-pan′

,
Noun.
[F.
trépan
(cf. Sp.
trépano
, It.
trepano
,
trapano
), LL.
trepanum
, fr. Gr. [GREEK] a borer, auger, trepan, fr. [GREEK] to bore, [GREEK] a hole. Cf.
Trephine
.]
1.
(Surg.)
A crown-saw or cylindrical saw for perforating the skull, turned, when used, like a bit or gimlet. See
Trephine
.
2.
(Mining)
A kind of broad chisel for sinking shafts.

Tre-pan′

,
Verb.
T.
&
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Trepanned
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Trepanning
.]
[Cf. F.
trépaner
. See
Trepan
a saw.]
(Surg.)
To perforate (the skull) with a trepan, so as to remove a portion of the bone, and thus relieve the brain from pressure or irritation; to perform an operation with the trepan.

Tre-pan′

,
Noun.
[See
Trapan
.]
1.
A snare; a trapan.
Snares and
trepans
that common life lays in its way.
South.
2.
a deceiver; a cheat.
He had been from the beginning a spy and a
trepan
.
Macaulay.

Tre-pan′

,
Verb.
T.
To insnare; to trap; to trapan.
Guards even of a dozen men were silently
trepanned
from their stations.
De Quincey.

Webster 1828 Edition


Trepan

TREPAN'

,
Noun.
[L. tero, terebra, on the root Rp.] In surgery, a circular saw for perforating the skull. It resembles a wimble.

TREPAN'

,
Verb.
T.
To perforate the skull and take out a piece; a surgical operation for relieving the brain from pressure or irritation.
Trepan, a snare, and trepan, to ensnare, are from trap, and written trepan, which see.