tourniquet

noun

tour·​ni·​quet ˈtu̇r-ni-kət  ˈtər- 

: 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

Slaton reportedly had a deep cut on her arm and used a shirt as a tourniquet until the EMTs took over. —Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024

One person had caution tape wrapped around an injury as a tourniquet, said Matt Riester, a TeamHealth physician who oversees the emergency department at the hospital. —Beth Warren, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024

Meanwhile, a woman described at least one member of the community helping another by applying a tourniquet to a victim’s leg, according to Fox affiliate KTTV. —Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 9 Dec. 2024

Kathryn McKenzie, a doctor who helped treat the officer, said that a tourniquet had already been placed on Wong’s wound by his partner before Wong arrived at the hospital. —Shawn Inglima, New York Daily News, 20 Nov. 2024

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

Kids Definition

tourniquet

noun

tour·​ni·​quet ˈtu̇r-ni-kət  ˈtər- 

: 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  ˈtər- 

: a device (as a bandage twisted tight with a stick) to check bleeding or blood flow