Definition of Forceps

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Forceps: An instrument with two blades and a handle used for handling, grasping, or compressing. Many types of forceps are employed in medicine, including the alligator forceps (an angled instrument with jaws at the end), tissue forceps (a form of tweezer), hemostatic forceps (also simply called a hemostat, to clamp a bleeding vessel), mosquito forceps (a small hemostat) and obstetrical forceps (to aid in delivering a baby).

The word "forceps" comes directly from the Latin for an instrument designed to grasp, pluck, or lift. The term was derived from "formus" =(hot) + "capere" (to grasp) and designated an instrument used to grasp something too hot to handle with ones hands.