1610s, "a cutting off of tree branches, a pruning," also "operation of cutting off a limb, etc., of a body," from Middle French amputation or directly from Latin amputationem (nominative amputatio), noun of action from past participle stem of amputare "cut off, lop off; cut around, to prune," from am(bi)- "about" (see ambi-) + putare "to prune, trim" (see pave).
1630s, back-formation from amputation or else from Latin amputatus, past participle of amputare "to cut off, to prune." Related: Amputated; amputating.
amputate am·pu·tate (ām'pyu-tāt')
v. am·pu·tat·ed, am·pu·tat·ing, am·pu·tates
To cut off a part of the body, especially by surgery.
amputation am·pu·ta·tion (ām'pyu-tā'shən)
n.
Surgical removal of all or part of a limb, an organ, or projecting part or process of the body.
Traumatic or spontaneous loss of a limb, organ, or part.