meconium
UK[mɪˈkəʊ.ni.əm]US[mɪˈkoʊ.ni.əm]
n
The dark greenish fecal material that accumulates in the fetal intestines and is discharged shortly after birth.
Morpheme Breakdown
mecon
ium
mecon
poppy, opium
ium
substance, material
Etymology
The word 'meconium' originates from the Greek mēkōnion, a diminutive of mēkōn (poppy). In ancient Greek medicine, the term was used for opium or poppy-juice due to its thick, dark, and viscous appearance. This descriptive term was later adopted into Latin and subsequently into medical English to name the first intestinal discharge of a newborn, which visually resembles the substance. Thus, the modern medical meaning is a direct metaphorical extension based on the physical characteristics of the original referent.
Analysis
Structure: mecon (poppy, opium) + ium (substance, material)
- mecon: From Greek mēkōn, meaning "poppy" or "opium".
- ium: A Latin suffix used to form nouns denoting substances, materials, or anatomical structures.
Examples
The presence of meconium in the amniotic fluid can be a sign of fetal distress.
The nurse documented the baby's first meconium stool.
Meconium aspiration syndrome is a serious condition where a newborn breathes a mixture of meconium and amniotic fluid into the lungs.