caul
UK[kɔːl]US[kɑːl]
n
A membrane or amniotic sac that sometimes covers a baby's head at birth.
n
A part of the peritoneum that covers the stomach and other abdominal organs; the omentum.
Etymology
The word 'caul' entered English from the Old French cale, meaning "a small cap". This French term derived from the Latin caput, meaning "head", via a diminutive form. The anatomical sense evolved from the literal idea of a head-covering to specifically denote the amniotic membrane that can envelop a newborn's head, resembling a cap or veil. This semantic shift from a general head-covering to a precise medical and midwifery term illustrates a common pattern where a concrete, everyday object gives its name to a specialized biological structure.
Analysis
This word is a simplex loanword from Old French. Its ultimate Latin root is caput, meaning "head".
Examples
The baby was born with a caul, which the midwife carefully removed.
In some folklore, being born with a caul is considered a sign of good luck.
The surgeon carefully examined the caul, or greater omentum, during the abdominal procedure.