[a. F. tuberosité (Paré, c. 1550), f. late L. tūberōsitās, f. tūberōs-us TUBEROSE + -ITY.]
1. The quality or condition of being tuberous; bulging; gibbosity. Now rare or Obs.
1541. R. Copland, Guydon’s Quest. Chirurg., Q iv b. Hardnes and tuberosyte of the ioyntes outwarde.
1610. Guillim, Heraldry, II. vi. 63. A bow, which being bent hath a moderate bowing voide of excess of tuberositie.
2. concr. A tuberous formation or part; a swelling, protuberance, prominence. a. Anat. and Zool.: esp. a large irregular projection of a bone, usually serving for attachment of a muscle.
1611. Cotgr., Condyle, the tuberiositie, out-swelling, roundnesse, or knots, of the thigh, knee, ankle, elbow, or knuckle-bones.
1741. Monro, Anat. (ed. 3), 134. The internal posterior Part of the Tuberosity and Alveoli of the Teeth.
1852. Th. Ross, Humboldt’s Trav., I. i. 27. The brownish tuberosities of its body.
1870. Rolleston, Anim. Life, 13. The great triangular tuberosity of the humerus.
b. generally. A swelling, a swollen mass.
1611. Cotgr., Tuberositez, tuberosities, swellings;… knobs; knots.
1831. Carlyle, Sart. Res., I. v. Whether he flow gracefully out in folded mantles;… swell-out in starched ruffs, buckram stuffings, and monstrous tuberosities; or [etc.] Ibid., III. vi. I sojourned in that monstrous tuberosity of Civilised Life, the Capital of England.
