kheirourgos

Kheirourgos (Greek: χειρουργός) is the Modern Greek term for a surgeon, a medical professional who performs surgical procedures. It is the standard designation for physicians who specialize in operative medicine in Greek-speaking countries.

Etymology and meaning: The word derives from the Greek roots cheir (hand) and ergon (work), literally meaning “one who works with the hand.” The term has historical use in Greek to refer to practitioners who perform manual operations. In classical and medieval Greek, the form cheirourgós appears, and the modern spelling reflects the same roots and meaning. The related discipline is χειρουργική (cheirourgikí), meaning surgery, and the adjective χειρουργικός (cheirourgikós) means surgical.

Cross-linguistic notes: The English term chirurgeon is an archaic form for surgeon and traces to the Latin chirurgus, which in turn derives from the Greek cheirourgós. Thus, kheirourgos is part of the lineage of words for the surgical profession in European languages.

Usage context: In contemporary Greek, χειρουργός is used in medical settings to designate surgeons across specialties, such as general surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, and orthopedic surgery. The term is gender-neutral in modern usage, with form and title adapting to standard Greek grammatical conventions.

See also: Surgery, Medicine, Greek language.