Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CHI-RUR'GEON, n. [Gr. χειρουργος, one who operates with the hand, χειρ, the hand, and εργος, work; L. chirurgus; Fr. chirurgien; Sp. cirujano; Port. surgiam, or cirurgiam; It. chirurgo; Arm. surgyan.]

A surgeon; one whose profession is to heal diseases by manual operations, instruments or external applications. [This ill-sounding word is obsolete, and it now appears in the form of surgeon – which see.]