tourniquet

noun

tour·​ni·​quet ˈtu̇r-ni-kət How to pronounce tourniquet (audio) ˈtər- How to pronounce tourniquet (audio)
: a device (such as a band of rubber) that checks bleeding or blood flow by compressing blood vessels

Examples of tourniquet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Hemostatic gauze has clotting technology designed to slow blood flow, while a tourniquet is the most standard form of slowing a bleed. Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee, 26 Feb. 2024 Tokarev attaches a tourniquet and asks if there is anything else. Washington Post, 5 Feb. 2024 Crago applied a tourniquet to O’Neill's leg to stop the bleeding before paramedics arrived, media reported. USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2024 The officer then shot the dog several times, and police began providing medical aid and putting tourniquets on the man who was attacked. Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 29 Jan. 2024 Officers were able to reach him and took him into custody and provided medical aid, including using a tourniquet. Lyndsay Winkley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Sep. 2023 Heading toward the exit, which took her past the department where the incident occurred, Geiger noticed a man on the ground with a tourniquet around his leg. Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024 Officers applied tourniquets to the injured man, who was taken to a hospital in critical condition, police said. Don Sweeney, Sacramento Bee, 29 Jan. 2024 Other officers and medics and tourniquets — for both legs — arrived in minutes. Dan Morse, Washington Post, 20 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tourniquet.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French, turnstile, tourniquet, from tourner to turn, from Old French — more at turn

First Known Use

1695, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tourniquet was in 1695

Dictionary Entries Near tourniquet

Cite this Entry

“Tourniquet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tourniquet. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tourniquet

noun
tour·​ni·​quet ˈtu̇r-ni-kət How to pronounce tourniquet (audio) ˈtər- How to pronounce tourniquet (audio)
: a device (as a band of rubber) used to stop or slow bleeding or blood flow by compressing blood vessels

Medical Definition

tourniquet

noun
tour·​ni·​quet ˈtu̇r-ni-kət How to pronounce tourniquet (audio) ˈtər- How to pronounce tourniquet (audio)
: a device (as a bandage twisted tight with a stick) to check bleeding or blood flow

More from Merriam-Webster on tourniquet

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!