scissure

noun

scis·​sure

ˈsizhə(r),

-ish-

plural -s

1

archaic : a cleft or elongated opening in a body or surface made by or as if by cutting : a cleft separating bodily parts or opening into the body

2

obsolete : a split or division in a group or union : schism

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin scissura, from scissus (past participle of scindere to split) + -ura -ure

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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