zirbushttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zirbus_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezirbus, n.
First published 2021

zirbusnoun

Anatomy and Surgery. Now historical and rare.
  1. a1400–
    The omentum; spec. the greater omentum, a fold of peritoneum passing from the stomach to the transverse colon and hanging in front of the intestines.
    1. a1400
      Þoruȝ þe same breking þe bowels falliþ adoun ouþir zirbus.
      translation of Lanfranc, Science of Cirurgie (Ashmole MS.) (1894) 270 (Middle English Dictionary)
    2. ?c1425
      Lay þe pacient vpriȝt on his bak, and put yn aȝen þe intestynes or guttes and zirbus..and bynde it with a strong þrede.
      translation of Guy de Chauliac, Grande Chirurgie (Paris MS.) (1971) 500 (Middle English Dictionary)
    3. c1475 (1392)
      Wherfore it schewiþ þat zirbus ys cold and drie by cause of þe tweye membris of whom he is compouned, and þou schalt vndirstonde þat zirbus & Omentum is al oon þing.
      Surgical Treatises in MS Wellcome 564 f. 41 (Middle English Dictionary)
      [Composed 1392]
    4. 1543
      For whan zirbus commethe out of the wounde, putrefaction must nedes ensue.
      B. Traheron, translation of J. de Vigo, Most Excellent Workes of Chirurgerye iii.i. f. C.iv/2
    5. 1597
      The Zirbus or fat, commonly called the Caule, issued foorth, with the guts likewise.
      J. Gerard, Herball ii. 853
    6. a1654
      You may know when the Intestines is descended by noise that it will make..; but if it be the Zirbus, it makes no noise.
      N. Culpeper, School of Physick (1659) 211
    7. 1682
      We..doubt whether this also may not have tempted our Predecessors immediately to cut off the elapsed part of the Zirbus, without trying whether they could reduce or preserve it.
      J. Yonge, Wounds of Brain 123
    8. 1917
      The wound made by the missile was of such a nature that it permitted a large portion of the ‘zirbus’ (omentum)..to protrude from the opening.
      A. H. Buck, Growth of Medicine xli. 521

zirbus, n. was first published in March 2021.

zirbus, n. was last modified in July 2023.