ampule
UK[ˈæmpjuːl]US[ˈæmpjuːl]
n
a small sealed glass capsule containing a measured quantity of liquid ready for injecting
Etymology
The word 'ampule' entered English in the late 19th century from the French word ampoule, which itself derives from the Latin ampulla, meaning a small, two-handled flask or bottle. The Latin term is likely a diminutive form of amphora, the large vessel used in antiquity for transporting liquids. The semantic journey, therefore, is from a large storage jar to a small flask, and finally to the modern, highly specialized meaning of a small, sterile, sealed glass container for a hypodermic dose. This evolution reflects the term's adaptation to the precise needs of modern medicine from its ancient Roman origins in everyday containers.
Analysis
This word is a loanword adopted as a single unit into English. Its spelling and form are not productively built from recognizable English morphemes.
Examples
The nurse broke the neck of the glass ampule to draw the medication into the syringe.
The vaccine was supplied in single-dose ampules to ensure sterility.
He carefully filed the ampule before snapping it open to avoid glass shards.