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bi·ceps

(bisĕps′)

n.pl. biceps

1. A muscle with two heads or points of origin.

a. The large muscle at the front of the upper arm that flexes the forearm.Also called biceps brachii.

b. The large muscle at the back of the thigh that flexes the knee joint.Also called biceps femoris.

[FromLatin, two-headed : bi-, two; see BI–¹ + caput, head; see kaput- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

(click for a larger image)

biceps

left: biceps relaxed to extend forearm

right: biceps contracted to raise forearm

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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