Cartilages

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of flexible connective tissue found in various parts of the body, providing support and structure for structures like joints and the respiratory tract
2. A semi-rigid yet pliable tissue that plays a crucial role in the shape and function of body parts such as ears, nose, and joints
3. A specialized form of connective tissue that serves as a cushion between bones and forms essential structures in the skeletal and respiratory systems

Etymology: "Cartilages" is simply the plural of "cartilage," so its history is that of the singular noun. English borrowed the word from French "cartilage," which in turn comes from Latin "cartilāgō," a term for the stiff, gristly connective tissue of the body. The Latin noun gave English a learned, anatomical name for a material that the language already had a native word for. That native word was "gristle," from Old English "gristel," which has survived in everyday speech as the name for tough, chewy connective tissue in meat. The borrowed term partly displaced it in technical and medical use, so the two words now mark different registers: "cartilage" for the anatomical tissue in ears, noses, and joints, and "gristle" for the chewy bits of a cut of meat.