gland

The word 'gland' entered English in the late 17th century from the French 'glande', which itself derived from the Latin 'glandula', meaning 'little acorn' or 'gland of the throat'. The Latin 'glandula' is a diminutive form of 'glans' (genitive 'glandis'), which primarily meant 'acorn'. This anatomical term was applied by ancient physicians because the shape of certain glands, particularly the tonsils, was thought to resemble that of an acorn. Over time, the term generalized in medical science to refer to any organ that secretes specific substances for use in or discharge from the body, shedding its literal visual connection but retaining its core classificatory function.

The word 'gland' is a simplex word. It is a loanword from Latin 'glandula', a diminutive of 'glans' (acorn). In this context, it functions as a complete, unsegmentable unit in modern English.