stylet

English

Etymology

From French stylet (“stiletto”), from Middle French stilet (“stiletto”), from Old Italian stiletto. Doublet of stiletto.

Noun

stylet (plural stylets)

1. An engraving tool, a stylus.
2. (botany) A style of a plant's flower.
3. (surgery) A slender medical probe or device.

   Synonym: style

4. (weaponry) A poniard or stiletto.
5. (zoology) A stiff, slender organ of an animal.

   Synonym: style

   • 2017, Danna Staaf, Squid Empire, ForeEdge, →ISBN, page 120:

     Even octopuses without stylets almost certainly retain the molecular machinery necessary to build them.

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sti.lɛ/
• Rhymes: -aɪlət

Etymology 1

From Italian stiletto.

Noun

stylet m (plural stylets)

1. stiletto (blade)

Etymology 2

From style +‎ -et.

Noun

stylet m (plural stylets)

1. stylus
2. (medicine) stylet

Further reading

• “stylet”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.