hyoid

Term: hyoid

Literally meaning:  shaped like the letter υ (hypsilon)

Origin: Anc Greek

υ/hy=u as the letter “u” corresponded to Greek letter «υ»  (uppercase Υ, lowercase υ)

 the 20^th letter of Greek alphabet.

-οειδής/-oides(=-oid, prefix meaning “like”, “type”, “form”)

Coined/History

Upsilon is known as Pythagoras' letter because the Greek philosopher and mathematician  (570–c. 495 BC) used it as a symbol of the path of vice.

Definition

Hyoid is the U shaped bone at the base of the tongue between the chin and the thyroid which is not directly attached to other bones supporting  tongue muscles.