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Origin and history of trapezius

trapezius(n.)

large muscle over the back of the neck, by 1704, from Modern Latin trapezius (musculus), masc. adjective from trapezium (see trapezium). So called from the shape they form. Related: Trapezial "of or pertaining to the trapezius" (1660s).

also from 1704

Entries linking to trapezius

trapezium(n.)

in geometry, "plane figure contained by four straight lines and not a parallelogram," 1560s, from Late Latin trapezium (plural trapezia), from Greek trapezion "irregular quadrilateral," literally "a little table," diminutive of trapeza "table, dining table," from tra- "four" (from PIE root *kwetwer- "four") + peza "foot, edge," related to pous (from PIE root *ped- "foot").

The classical Greek table is said to have had one side shorter than the opposite, hence the word was extended in Euclid to a 4-sided figure with unequal sides. Before 1540s, Latin editions of Euclid used the Arabic-derived word helmuariphe, helmuaripha.

Compare trapezoid, with which it has confused and exchanged senses at various times in distinguishing figures in which two opposite sides are parallel and two are not, from those in which none are.

As the name of a bone in the wrist, it is recorded from 1840. Related: Trapezian, in reference to crystal faces. Greek kynes trapezēes was "table-dogs," hence "parasites."

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