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Definition of tourniquet
tourniquet
/ˈtɜːr.nɪ.kɪt/
tour · ni · quet
Plural:tourniquets
•Past Simple:tourniqueted
•Past Participle:tourniqueted
•Present Participle:tourniqueting
tourniquet Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
8
Tier
2
Usage
Top 10k
tourniquet Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
Scrabble UK
WWF
Wordle Guess
• noun
1
A tightly tied device, bandage, or strap applied to a limb to compress an artery or vein, used to stop severe bleeding or restrict blood flow in medical emergencies.
Example
"The paramedic quickly applied a tourniquet to the victim's leg to prevent further blood loss before reaching the hospital."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for tourniquet• verb
1
To apply a tourniquet to a limb or blood vessel in order to restrict blood flow and stop severe bleeding.
Example
"The rescue team had to tourniquet the injured hiker's arm while awaiting helicopter evacuation."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for tourniquetWord Origin & Etymology
Late 17th century: from French, from 'tourner' (to turn), referring to the original method of tightening the device by twisting a stick or screw.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Tourniquet. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/tourniquet