arch. Forms: α. 5 syrurgery, cyrurgerye, 6 cyrurgery. β. 6 chirurgerie, 7 chyrurgery, 6–9 chirurgery. [In ME. a. OF. cirurgerie, f. stem of cirurg-ien, cirurg-ie + -erie, -ERY. After the Renascence altered, with the cognate words, to chir-.]
That part of medical science and art which is concerned with the cure of diseases or bodily injuries by manual operation; = SURGERY.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R. (W. de Worde), VII. vi. (1495), 227. Holpe wyth crafte of Syrurgery.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 93/1. No maistre in phisike ne in Cyrurgerye.
1541. R. Copland, Guydon’s Quest. Chirurg., A ij. Cyrurgery is in two maners.
1563. T. Gale, Antidot., Pref. 1. Suche medicinal instruments, as … are required in the arte of Chirurgerie.
1598. Stow, Surv., viii. (1603), 76. There was founded a publike lecture in Chirurgerie.
1732. Arbuthnot, Rules of Diet, 390. A Dropsy of the Breast is … cur’d by … Chirurgery.
1815. Scott, Guy M., xxiv. The gudewife … showed some knowledge of chirurgery.
¶ Etymological nonce-use.
1840. J. H. Green, Vital Dynamics, 48. It was mere chirurgery, that is hand-craft, handy-work.
