Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun An abnormal constriction of the foreskin that prevents it from being drawn back to uncover the glans penis.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Stenosis of the preputial orifice. Compareparaphimosis.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Med.) A condition of the penis in which the prepuce can not be drawn back so as to uncover the glans penis.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun medicine A contraction of the foreskin (either as a stage of development or a pathological condition), which prevents it from being retracted.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun an abnormal tightness of the foreskin preventing retraction over the glans

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[New Latin phīmōsis, from Greek, a muzzling, phimosis, from phīmoun, to muzzle, from phīmos, muzzle.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin phimosis, from Ancient Greek φίμωσις ("muzzling").

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Examples

  • The word phimosis means "muzzling," and it is a term applied to a constriction or narrowing of the foreskin, so that the glands of the clitoris cannot be freely uncovered.

    Woman Her Sex and Love Life William J. Robinson

  • When a boy gets some trouble with his genital organs, such as phimosis, or balanitis or whatever it may be, he is at once taken to a physician, who institutes the necessary treatment.

    Woman Her Sex and Love Life William J. Robinson

  • The word or term "phimosis" is derived from two Greek roots, signifying

    History of Circumcision from the Earliest Times to the Present Moral and Physical Reasons for its Performance Peter Charles Remondino 1886

  • In the study, scientists from Innsbruck Medical University in Austria examined foreskin samples from 133 males between 7 months and 82 years old who had undergone circumcision to treat phimosis, a condition in which the foreskin cannot be pulled back from the head of the penis.

    Foreskin may be reservoir for HPV 2011

  • In the study, scientists from Innsbruck Medical University in Austria examined foreskin samples from 133 males between 7 months and 82 years old who had undergone circumcision to treat phimosis, a condition in which the foreskin cannot be pulled back from the head of the penis.

    Foreskin may be reservoir for HPV 2011

  • Do the benefits (slightly lower rates of penile cancer, eliminating the risk of phimosis, smaller risk of HIV contraction though that can be greatly minimized with condom use) outweigh the risks (a botched circumcision, somewhat less penile sensitivity)?

    Just a Bit Off the Top 2007

  • And after seeing all the problems with uncircumcized males during my time working in Africa, (phimosis, paraphimosis, balanitis, cancer) one can see it has advantages, especially in dry climates where dust gets in tender areas ...

    Medpundit 2006

  • I have known men as old as 32 years old that actually had phimosis.

    Neonatal Circumcision (Controversy? Who, Moi?) 1 Dinosaur 2007

  • Circumcision is never required “urgently or emergently” to resolve phimosis.

    Neonatal Circumcision (Controversy? Who, Moi?) 1 Dinosaur 2007

  • Also, 99% of cases of phimosis is easily resolved with simple stretching exercises and no medical intervention.

    Neonatal Circumcision (Controversy? Who, Moi?) 1 Dinosaur 2007

Comments

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  • The condition from a fibrotic or shrunken prepuce that will no longer stretch enough to retract over the head of the penis. Cf. paraphimosis.

    April 13, 2007