Canthuses

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The angles at which the upper and lower eyelids join, on either side of the eye
2. The inner or outer corners where the eyelids meet and form a point at each end of the eye
3. Points at either end of the eye where the upper and lower lids come together

Etymology: "Canthuses" is the plural of "canthus," the anatomical term for the outer or inner corner of the eye where the upper and lower eyelids meet. The singular was borrowed directly from Latin "canthus," which itself came from the Ancient Greek "kanthos," meaning the same thing: the corner of the eye. The Greek word also gave English a rarer relative, "canthi," the Latin-style plural that some medical writers still prefer. Both plurals are in use, though "canthuses" follows the regular English pattern of adding "-es," making it the more natural choice for most readers.