penis

[pee-nis] /ˈpi nɪs/
noun, plural penises, penes
[pee-neez] /ˈpi niz/ (Show IPA). Anatomy, Zoology
1.
the male organ of copulation and, in mammals, of urinary excretion.
Origin
1685-95; < Latin pēnis tail, penis
Related forms
penile
[peen-l, pee-nahyl] /ˈpin l, ˈpi naɪl/ (Show IPA), penial
[pee-nee-uh l] /ˈpi ni əl/ (Show IPA), adjective
Can be confused
penal, penile.
British Dictionary definitions for penis

penis

/ˈpiːnɪs/
noun (pl) -nises, -nes (-niːz)
1.
the male organ of copulation in higher vertebrates, also used for urine excretion in many mammals
Word Origin
C17: from Latin
Word Origin and History for penis
n.

1670s, perhaps from French pénis or directly from Latin penis "penis," earlier "tail," from PIE *pes-/*pesos- "penis" (cf. Sanskrit pasas-, Greek peos, posthe "penis," probably also Old English fæsl "progeny, offspring," Old Norse fösull, German Fasel "young of animals, brood"). The proper plural is penes. The adjective is penial. In psychological writing, penis envy is attested from 1924.

penis in Medicine

penis pe·nis (pē'nĭs)
n. pl. pe·nis·es or pe·nes (-nēz)
The male organ of copulation and of urinary excretion, formed by three columns of erectile tissue, two arranged laterally on the dorsum and one medianly below; the extremity is formed by an expansion of the corpus spongiosum, covered by a free fold of skin.

penis in Science
penis
  (pē'nĭs)   
Plural penises or penes (pē'nēz)

  1. The male reproductive organ of mammals and some reptiles and birds. In mammals, the penis contains the urethra, which carries urine from the bladder and releases sperm during reproduction.

  2. A similar organ found in the males of some invertebrate animals.


penis in Culture

penis definition


The organ of the male reproductive system through which semen passes out of the body during sexual intercourse. The penis is also an organ of urination.