Medicine/Medical. to strike or tap for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.
2.
to strike (something) so as to shake or cause a shock to.
verb (used without object)
3.
Medicine/Medical. to strike the surface of a part of the body for diagnostic purposes.
Origin
1550-60; < Latinpercussus, past participle of percutere to strike hard, beat, equivalent to per-per- + -cut(ere), combining form of quatere to shake (see quash) + -tus past participle suffix, with tt > ss
Related forms
unpercussed, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for percuss
percuss
/pəˈkʌs/
verb (transitive)
1.
to strike sharply, rapidly, or suddenly
2.
(med) to tap on (a body surface) with the fingertips or a special hammer to aid diagnosis or for therapeutic purposes
Derived Forms
percussor, noun
Word Origin
C16: from Latin percutere, from per- through + quatere to shake
percuss in Medicine
percuss per·cuss (pər-kŭs') v.per·cussed, per·cuss·ing, per·cuss·es To strike or tap firmly; perform percussion.