Word Study
tophus
CIDE DICTIONARY
tophus, n. [NL.: cf. F. tophus a mineral concretion in the joint. See Toph.].
- One of the mineral concretions about the joints, and in other situations, occurring chiefly in gouty persons. They consist usually of urate of sodium; when occurring in the internal organs they are also composed of phosphate of calcium. [1913 Webster]
- Calcareous tufa. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
tophus, n. (pl. tophi)
1 Med. a gouty deposit of crystalline uric acid and other substances at the surface of joints.
2 Geol. = TUFA.
1 Med. a gouty deposit of crystalline uric acid and other substances at the surface of joints.
2 Geol. = TUFA.
Etymology
L, name of loose porous stones
For further exploring for "tophus" in Webster Dictionary Online