dura
UK[ˈdjʊərə]US[ˈdʊrə]
n
A tough, fibrous membrane covering the brain and spinal cord; short for dura mater.
Etymology
The term originates from the Medieval Latin phrase 'dura mater cerebri', literally translating to "hard mother of the brain". This was a calque (loan translation) of the Arabic term 'al-umm al-jāfiyah' ("the tough mother"), used by medieval Arabic physicians and anatomists. The descriptor "hard" refers to the membrane's tough, fibrous texture compared to the softer 'pia mater' ("tender mother") beneath it. Through ellipsis, the clipped form 'dura' entered English medical vocabulary as a standalone noun referring specifically to this protective membrane.
Analysis
The word 'dura' is a clipped form of the Medieval Latin term 'dura mater', meaning "hard mother". It is not productively segmented into smaller morphemes in modern English usage.
Examples
The surgeon carefully incised the dura to access the underlying brain tissue.
A tear in the dura can lead to a cerebrospinal fluid leak.
The meninges consist of three layers: the dura, arachnoid, and pia mater.