malleus
UK[ˈmæl.i.əs]US[ˈmæl.i.əs]
n
a small bone in the middle ear, shaped like a hammer, which transmits vibrations from the eardrum to the incus.
Etymology
the word 'malleus' was borrowed directly from latin, where it meant "hammer, mallet." this latin term is believed to derive from the proto-indo-european root melh₂-, meaning "to crush, grind," which also gave rise to words like 'mill' and 'mallet' in english. in anatomical latin, the bone's hammer-like shape led to its naming. thus, the modern english term retains its original latin form and literal meaning, specifically denoting one of the three auditory ossicles.
Analysis
the entire word 'malleus' is a simplex loanword from latin.
Examples
the malleus is the outermost of the three tiny bones in the middle ear.
otosclerosis can sometimes fix the malleus to the eardrum, causing hearing loss.
vibrations from the eardrum are first transferred to the malleus.